News
Nigerian Army Denies Allegations of Soldiers Invading EKEDC Substation in Badagry
The Nigerian Army’s 81 Division has denied allegations that its soldiers invaded an Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry, Lagos, following a reported misunderstanding at Topo Barracks.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Division’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, dismissed the claims of invasion by its soldiers, describing them as misleading and inaccurate. The allegations surfaced during an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, which aired on Arise Television on Tuesday.
Lt Col Ayeni argued that the television footage repeatedly aired during the interview was unrelated to the alleged incident and did not involve Nigerian Army personnel.
“The soldiers shown in the footage were not personnel of the Nigerian Army,” he stated, emphasizing that the images created a false impression of a confrontation between the Army and EKEDC.
The Army explained that Badagry, including Topo Barracks, had endured a month-long power outage before the incident. Despite assurances from EKEDC, the situation persisted until power was finally restored on March 14 at about 12:30 a.m.
However, a power surge following the restoration triggered a fire outbreak at an EKEDC-managed facility within the barracks, causing panic among residents. Soldiers on duty immediately collaborated with EKEDC staff to contain the situation.
EKEDC technical personnel were granted access to the barracks around 1:00 a.m. and completed their repairs before leaving by 2:30 a.m.
While Ayeni acknowledged that a misunderstanding briefly occurred between a soldier and EKEDC staff, he insisted that it was swiftly and peacefully resolved.
He categorically denied reports that soldiers invaded EKEDC premises, detained, or abducted any of its staff.
“The Nigerian Army, as a reputable institution, upholds human rights and remains committed to lawful conduct,” Ayeni affirmed, adding that misconduct against law-abiding citizens would not be tolerated.
The Commanding Officer of Topo Barracks has since convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the fire outbreak and ensure full transparency.
Ayeni also assured the public that the long-standing cordial relationship between the Nigerian Army and EKEDC leadership in Badagry remains intact.
The Army reiterated its commitment to fostering harmonious relations with host communities and key stakeholders while upholding professionalism and accountability.
Daily Sun
Bisola Ajimobi Kola-Daisi, the first child of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, late Abiola Ajimobi is dead.
It was gathered that Bisola, who is married to Mr Kolapo Kola-Daisi, died in the early hours of Thursday.
She died at the age of 42.
According to Daily post, she died in the United Kingdom.
Until her death, she was the Special Adviser to the Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
As of the time of filing this report, the family is yet to officially confirm her demise.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), filling existing vacancies and strengthening the board’s capacity.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the approved nominees are Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
President Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represent the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), and Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).
President Tinubu encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
… Approves N10 billion for 10 universities in 2025 intervention year
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, on Thursday, commissioned Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) projects at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) in Benue state.
The commissioning was part of activities marking the institution’s 26th and 31st combined Convocation ceremonies.
The Minister who was represented by Director of University Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Rakiya Ilyasu, described the projects in the university as quite impressive saying “I have used that to judge the management and that is to say that they are doing very well because it is not all managements that can bring up these types of structures within a short time.”
Alausa who commissioned the Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication building (year 2024 annual intervention) applauded the school management led by Prof. Isaac Itodo adding that If all goes well like this, in the next 10 to 15 years, “our universities would be transformed into what we will all be proud of.
“I want to agree with the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono that the 2025 intervention would also be deployed to improve and rehabilitate all the school structures especially the hostels and the toilets because sanitation is one of the best things we can give to students.
“When the environment is clean and neat every other thing is secondary. Hopefully the government has accepted that we are going to rehabilitate all that, and I believe that the management would do the needful to ensure that it is done.”
Speaking earlier, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono who commissioned the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering building, a year 2023 annual intervention, said the federal government has approved the sum of N10 billion for 10 universities to help them go into commercial agriculture and also contribute to the nations food security.
Echono stated that President Bola Tinubu had specifically mandated that all universities should be prepared to become self reliant.
“He directed that they should explore other avenues of generating revenue other than depending solely on government budgets and allocations. And one of the examples he gave us was that many universities have large parcels of land, and JOSTUM is a very good example of such.
“He said the land can be used for commercial agriculture that will service not only their students but the community and can also help them earn some revenue from it which would be helpful to cushion the huge costs they incur even in maintaining their facilities.
“So in this year’s intervention, we made approval for about 10 universities and N10 billion was provided and we will be picking 10 different universities. So having seen what I saw here and this being a university of Agriculture, I believe that JOSTUM will be one of them.”
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Prof. Isaac Itodo said the quantum of projects in the school signifies that they are utilizing TetFund monies judiciously
He said the rate of development in the institution lies squarely on the management of the University explaining that while bifurcating and unbundling programmes, the institution needs commensurate infrastructure.
He commended the federal government through TetFund for ensuring that the university is on its way to being infrastructurally satisfied.
Daily Sun
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