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The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says it is supporting 250,000 households withelectric mobility, mini-grids, home systems to boost electricity in the country. Malam Mutari Ibrahim, Director Promotion and Outreach (PIO) made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday. "In response to subsidy removal, REA is implementing interventions to develop electric mobility, mini-grids, distribute home systems. ''And deploy streetlights, potentially supporting up to 250,000 households in the coming year. Ibrahim said that the agency has equally deployed over 1,650 Kilo Meter (KM) of solar streetlights, improving power, security, and economic growth in rural areas, ''he said. He said that REA also completed 1,403 projects under the capital budget, delivering solar streetlights, m...

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that more clarification is needed on who is to represent Russia at the summit on the situation in the Gaza Strip, which will be held on October 21 in Cairo. The Al Qahera News broadcaster reported on Thursday that 31 country and three international organizations had confirmed their participation in the summit on the situation in the Gaza Strip. “I cannot tell you now. I need to clarify this. And I recommend checking with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Peskov told reporters. Earlier in the day, reports emerged that European Council President Charles Michel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell will join Cairo Peace Summit on behalf of the European Union. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will also at...

Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged residents of the FCT to plant trees as part of strategies to combat climate change. Geidam, who made the call during a visit to the FCT Plant Nursery in Bwari on Friday, expressed concern over the loss of tree covers resulting from rapid developmental activities in the FCT. He noted that climate change has emerged as a global concern, with its detrimental effects being felt across the world. He said that FCT, like many other urban areas, has experienced the depletion of its green cover due to urbanisation and developmental projects. According to him, the removal of trees not only contributes to the loss of biodiversity but also exacerbate...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has approved the withdrawal and revocation of houses sold to individuals by the FCT Administration but converted to other uses. Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. Galadima recalled that the Federal Government in 2005 initiated the monetisation programme because of the cost of maintaining the houses. He explained that the houses were sold to the occupiers so that they could maintain them. He, however, said that after some time, some of the beneficiaries converted the houses from residential to other uses. This, according to him, constitutes so much burden in terms of city administration and management that this admin...

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has given assurance that more women and youths will be involved in governance under the present administration as the future belongs to them. The first lady gave the assurance on Friday when she received the National Women Leader of APC, Mary Idele, in her office in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Sen. Tinubu urged women to be more optimistic in life and to put in more efforts to positively impact society. She called on women to showcase themselves in the political space and to positively impact the efforts at nation building. She also encouraged those found worthy of various roles to always reach out to key stakeholders in their respective sectors. "The future belongs to the youths and for young women who are interested in politics to fit...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the confirmation of the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi  as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service. Mr Willie Bassey, Director Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. According to the statement, the President tasks Adeniyi to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment. “The appointment takes effect from  Oct. 19 and his tenure is in accordance with the extant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).

Maj.-Gen Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, has charged 52 graduating officers of Operational Planning Cadre on teamwork, discipline, professionalism and joint action during operations. Dada gave the charge on Friday in Enugu while declaring close the 82 Division Operational Planning Cadre training held between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20, 2023. He said that the training had exposed all the participants to the need to operate in joint environment with others, notwithstanding security formations and specialties. “With this, the issue of rivalry would have been removed as currently being propagated by our bosses,” he said. According to him, “I therefore thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for his visionary leadershi...

The Israeli Army said on Friday that most of the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant Palestinian organisation are still alive. However, the army did not say where they got the information and it cannot be independently verified. Tensions have been particularly high in the wake of bloody attacks and massacres in Israel on Oct. 7 carried out by Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organisation by the European Union, the United States and Israel. About 203 hostages are being held in the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave, including more than 20 children and teenagers, according to Israeli military sources. Between 10 and 20 hostages are elderly people over 60, it said. Between 100 to 200 people are still missing since the unprecedented attack getting...

Rescue The Vulnerable Initiative, an NGO, has expressed concern over the insensitivity of Nigerian lawmakers purchased of exotic cars at a staggering cost of N160 million per legislator. The leader of the group, Mr Faduri Joseph, told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that the lawmakers decision came at a time when the nation’s economy was in a state of free fall, leaving countless civil servants and workers struggling to provide for their families due to meager earnings. He said skyrocketing food prices and the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies without adequate preparation has exacerbated the hardship. Joseph said: “It’s shameful that our lawmakers, during one of the worst economic downturns in the history of Nigeria, could utilise borrowed funds to acquire luxury vehicles for themselve...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Aug. 1. The waiver was in accordance with the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy. This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Friday in Abuja. He said that the order was placed on the NARD members following the commencement of their industrial action on July 26. Sharpedgenews reports that the NARD called off the strike after several consultations with the Federal Government on Aug. 12. The federal government has, however, directed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold all salaries accrued b...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to deploy 46,084 staff for the Nov.11 off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said this at the commission’s regular quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), in Abuja on Friday. Yakubu also said that 137,934 party agents representing the 18 political parties comprising 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents would also be on the field at the poll. “While we are leaving no stone unturned in other areas of preparation for the governorship elections, the commission plans to deploy a total of 46,084 regular and ad hoc staff for the election. “We have so far accredited 126 national and international organisations, and currently deploy...

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has expressed the determination to eliminate crime in the territory. Dr Rufus Ebegba the FCT Chairman of  PCRC said this at the security seminar organised by FCT PCRC with the theme; “The role of PCRC in national security”on Friday in Abuja. “We will reduce crime to the barest minimum if not totally eliminated,flash points in the FCT are areas where crimes are committed hideouts. “We don’t want those flash points to exist in FCT and we believe that the PCRC will work closely with the police to ensure that those flash points are eliminated. “Not just the flash points,kidnappings, one chance and all other vices committed within the FCT,” Ebegba assured. The FCT PCRC Chairman appealed to the F...

Two Non-Govermental Organisations (NGO), namely:  Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) and Self Help Africa, on Friday sensitised students from 20 FCT schools on the importance of handwashing practices. The sensitisation was aimed at curtailing the spread of diphteria and other communicable diseases in the country. Mrs Tayo Erinle, Executive Director, TCF said the exercise was also part of activities to mark the 2023 Global Handwashing Day, with the theme: “Clean Hands are Within Reach.” “Global Handwashing Day is designated by the UN to draw peoples attention to simple techniques that can save lives, communities and take away unnneccessary expenses that can keep children safe. “ And the best people to teach are children, if you come to them at that level because they are the ones wh...

The Coroner’s inquest into the death of Adebola Akin-Bright, the 12-year-old boy whose small intestine reportedly went missing, started on Friday at an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate court sitting in Lagos. Akin-Bright died on Sept. 9 following a corrective surgery done at LASUTH. The Coroner Inquest is presided over by His Honour Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, the District Coroner. At the inaugural hearing, Mr O.A. Akinde, Lagos State counsel, informed the court that necessary tests and examinations had been conducted on the corpse and there is a post-mortem report. He said that the office of the Attorney-General is aware of letters from solicitors to the father of the deceased seeking to preserve the corpse. The state counsel noted that the mother also seeks the release of the c...

By Information Unit, UATH The Nigeria IDP Diaspora Support (NIDS) Group, in Partnership with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, has held a 3-day medical outreach to pregnant women and children in displaced communities in FCT. Mr Kelvin Obi, Founder/Chairman, Nigeria IDP Diaspora Support Group, during the mission disclosed that the group is a non-profit, charity organization based in the United Kingdom with focus on maternal/child health and mental health. The Founder said the Group also in this visit trained adult and children trauma counsellors and held a workshop for community health workers and nurses to help reduce maternal mortality rate and perinatal mortality in the country. Dr Sambo Thomas, a Senior Registrar (who is part of the local content)...

Former Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Port Command Public Relations Officer Chief Uche Ejesieme (0zor Ishinmili Agulu) and family members laid their father, Chief Alexander Okoye Ejesieme(Okwuotoekeneze 1 Of Agulu) in Ifiteani Village, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, to rest. A respected businessman and a figure of inspiration in the community, Chief Alexander Ejesieme's contributions will be cherished, and his legacy remembered. The entire town was enveloped with fanfare as prominent Nigerians came to honour the departed and celebrate his impactful life. The funeral service unfolded at St. John De Evangelist Catholic Church Agulu by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, as soon as his remains and the funeral Cortese wh...

Plans have been concluded for President Bola Tinubu to attend the first ever Green Economy Summit and the unveiling of the Niger Green Economy Blueprint to guide developmental choices of action in the state. The two- day summit, with the theme: ‘Sustainable Future: Harnessing Green Assets Innovation for Niger State’s Development’, is scheduled for between October 24 and 25 in Minna. According to a statement issued in Minna, Gov. Umaru Bago, said that the summit was expected to attract no fewer than 500 participants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds globally. The summit that is strategically aligned with the United Nations International Day for Climate Action, will be a forum where discussions and solutions will be proffered on various issues. They include; decarbonizing ene...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Ali Muhammed Ali as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday in Abuja. The other new leadership of the departments and agencies in the Ministry of Information and National Orientation are: (1) National Orientation Agency (NOA) — Director-General /CEO — Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu (2) Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) — Director-General/CEO — Mr Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos (3) Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) — Director-General/CEO — Dr Muhammed Bulama (4) National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) — Director-General/CEO — Mr Charles Ebuebu (5) V...

The national coordinator, Persons living with Diabetes in Nigeria and Secretary General Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Comrade Enyia has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to champion the treatment of John Okafor aka Mr Ibu, or he will go on a hunger strike. He made the announcement in a statement released to newsmen in Calabar after reading through the cry for help made available on Mr Ibu’s Instagram account. Enyia, who has been living with type 2 Diabetes, is a very strong advocate of Diabetes care in Nigeria. He further observed that Mr Ibu has contributed immensely towards the development of Nigeria’s economy through his acting roles in the movie industry, hence, he did not deserve to be in such excruciating pain. In his original words the Diabetes Advocate said, "His ...

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), on Thursday, dismissed as misleading media reports insinuating that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike has ordered partial demolition of the National Mosque, Abuja. This is contained in a statement by the Head, Public Relations/Information, FCDA, Mr Richard Nduul, in Abuja on Thursday. “The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been drawn to an online news story that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike has given the Executive Secretary, Mr Shehu Ahmad 24 hours to explain the government’s position concerning the partial demolition of the National Mosque. “The FCDA wishes to state unequivocally that as far as it is concerned, the news is fake or at best a mixed up by the reporter. “There was no time whatsoe...