Author: bibncollar

 Prominent members of the Organised Private Sector, OPS, yesterday raised concerns over frequent collapses of the national power grid, saying the development is crippling already distressed businesses. Among the business groups that expressed concern were the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA; Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN; and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. This is even as the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, warned that the frequent collapse of the national grid has continued to hinder economic growth and slow down enterprise sustainability efforts, given the high energy costs businesses currently have…

Tijjani Reijnders made sure AC Milan got their Champions League campaign up and running with a brace in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over 10-man Club Brugge at the San Siro. Netherlands midfielder Reijnders stroked home two fine finishes in the 61st and 71st minute to give Milan their first points in this year’s revamped competition. Before Reijnders struck Milan had struggled to deal with Brugge, who had levelled Christian Pulisic’s opening goal — netted straight from a 34th-minute corner — through Kyriani Sabbe six minutes after the break. At that point Brugge, who stay on three points, were down to 10…

FfBarely one hour into the expanded meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), the forum issued a disclaimer to news making the rounds that its Chairman or his associates have instituted a legal action against the party, in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital. The disclaimer was contained in a statement signed by the Director General of the PDP-GF, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, in Abuja, yesterday. Agbo said, “The attention of the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDP-GF under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and all the member Governors of the Forum, has been…

TArsenal bounced back from their embarrassment at Bournemouth as an own goal from Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk gave the Gunners a 1-0 win in the Champions League on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta’s side crashed to a damaging 2-0 defeat against the Cherries in the Premier League last weekend. That was Arsenal’s first loss in all competitions since the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich in April. Their response against Shakhtar was unconvincing, but they did enough to claim three points thanks to Riznyk’s first half own goal from Gabriel Martinelli’s strike. Leandro Trossard missed a late Arsenal penalty…

The House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed concern over the increasing cases of “one chance” criminal operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), condemning the growing insecurity in the nation’s capital. During its plenary session, the House directed relevant committees to engage the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, the FCT Police Commissioner, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to address the alarming situation. This action followed the tragic killing of Miss Nimah Sulaiman by “one chance” operators on Thursday, October 17, 2024. The resolution was prompted by a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its 2024 growth forecast for Nigeria’s economy to 2.9%, attributing the downgrade to weaker-than-expected economic activity in the first half of the year. This was revealed in the IMF’s October 2024 World Economic Outlook (WEO), released during the ongoing annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF. The revised forecast represents a 0.2 percentage point decrease from the 3.1% growth forecast projected in the July 2024 WEO. However, the IMF slightly raised its forecast for Nigeria’s economic growth in 2025, projecting a growth rate of 3.2%, up from 3.0% in the July…

… EEDC Ceases to Operate in Enugu State Tomorrow, 22nd October 2024 marks the making of history in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in Enugu State, as it marks the end of the transition period for the transfer of regulatory oversight from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC). This historical event is a strong affirmation of the States’ constitutional right to develop the electricity sector in their States, across the value chain of generation, transmission, distribution, or retailing services, including Mini-Grid and Off-Grid electrification solutions. As the foremost State to initiate…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), says it is engaging Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and other stakeholders in the electricity sector to make metering processes transparent and accountable. FCCPC said the engagement was to address ongoing concerns surrounding the phase-out of Unistar prepaid meters by Ikeja Electric Plc and other DisCos following widespread consumers’ complaints. A statement issued by Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Director, Special Duties and Strategic Communication, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the discussion was to clarify the phase-out process. He said the discussion would also ensure that DisCos bore the cost of replacement of…

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a suit that 19 states of the federation filed to declare operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, illegal. FG, which was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, challenged the competence of the suit which it described as a threat to the ongoing fight against corruption and financial crimes in the country. The AGF drew the attention of the apex court to a preliminary objection and counter-affidavit that FG filed on October 18 to query the legal propriety…

The senate has summoned the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, General Buba Marwa, to appear before it over allegations raised against the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, APC, Kwara South. The Senate has set up a six-member panel to invite all those involved in the accusation raised by NDLEA that Senator Ashiru made disparaging comments on NDLEA last week because he failed to stop the arrest and trial of some people found to be involved in drug abuse in his house. The panel, which is chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, APGA, Abia South, has…