By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a 422-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the commencement of the partys 2023 presidential campaign to be headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the list of members of the council released in Abuja on Saturday.

Sen. Bola Tinubu, the partys 2023 presidential candidate and Abdullahi Adamu, its National chairman, are to serve as deputy chairmen of the council.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau is the Director General with James Faleke as secretary of the council.

Sen. Kashim Shettima, the partys Vice-Presidential candidate is the vice chairman of the council and Adams Oshiomhole, former APC National Chairman is the deputy director-general (Operations) while Hadiza usman is the deputy director-general (Admin).

The 422-man campaign council has Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), as Vce Chairman and state Coordinator.

Godswill Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom Governor, is vice chairmen (South-South and Uju Kennedy, the former female APC presidential aspirant is vice chairman South-East.

Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa is the Regional Coordinator and Chairman for North and his state, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, regional coordinator South and Ebonyi; Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River is regional director South-south and Ebonyi.

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu is zonal coordinator for South-West and Ondo State; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello is the zonal coordinator for North-central and his state.

Gov. Muhammed Yahaha is zonal coordinator for the North-East and Gombe and Gov. Bello Matawalle is the zonal coordinator for the North-West and Zamfara.

The list showed that all APC governors are coordinators of the presidential council in their respective states and where there was no sitting governors of the party, its governorship candidates were the coordinators.

Others appointed were Gov. Yahaha Bello of Kogi as National Youth Coordinator, Felix Nicholas, Deputy National Youth Coordinator; Festus Keyamo, spokesperson, Chris Tarka, deputy secretary, Gov. Kayode Fayemi is the Coordinator for Ekiti State and Adviser Foreign Affairs.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan is made Senior Adviser on strategic planning, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adviser on Legal Matters, Aliyu Wamako, former Sokoto State Governor, Adviser on Special Duties.

Rotimi Amaechi, is adviser on infrastructure; Ibikunle Amosun, adviser on contacts and mobilisation; Dele Alake, Adviser on Media, Communications and Public Affairs.

Others are Abdullahi Ganduje, adviser political affairs and Kano coordinator; Nasir El-rufai, coordinator, Kaduna State and senior adviser, policy, strategy and enforcement and Abdulrahaman Danbazzau adviser, strategic engagement.

Faleke, Secretary to the council, advised all nominees to pick their appointment letters on Monday at the APC presidential campaign office.

The PCC with its many directorates would be inaugurated on Sept. 26 at the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Sappers Engineering Nigeria Ltd. (SENL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), Friday sought for collaboration with the Federal Government on effective implementation of ecological projects in the country.

Its Director of the Project, Brig.-Gen. Aderemi Gbedebo, at a visit to Ecological Project Fund (EPO) in Abuja, said the company was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Gbedebo, who visited the EPO with some members of his team, said the company had been involved with several government projects, including construction of roads/bridges, buildings, canals and reservoirs across the country.

He said that the SENL was a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), and was committed to work with the EPO for efficient implementation of projects.

According to him, the purpose of the visit is to reach out to the EPO to offer technical expertise in the implementation and operation of ecological projects in the country.

The company has the human resources, equipment and capacity to carry out any of the intervention projects towards national development.

The SENL had performed similar projects with some Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as constituency projects.

The projects are professionally and thoroughly executed by our team of experts, he said.

The Director, Overseeing the EPO, Dr Famous Eseduwo, while expressing delight over the visit, said that the office was ready and committed to work with the SENL.

Eseduwo said that the EPO would encourage the company to be involved in the execution of some of its projects, especially, considering the present security challenges facing the country.

Security is a frontline issue in governments efforts at meeting some of the needs of Nigerians and to mitigate their challenges. I believed that the collaboration will be an added value.

I want to assure that the request will be escalated to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ((SGF), Boss Mustapha, for further necessary action. (NAN) (

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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Source: NAN News

By Peter Uwumarogie

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged Nigerians to elect candidates that could sustain the country, in the 2023 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at a Special Prayer Session/Jumat Service to commemorate the 62nd Independence Day Celebration, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque Alausa, Ikeja on Friday.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu if elected, has the ability to sustain the nations economy, hence the need to support him.

The governor urged Nigerians to vote wisely come 2023 general elections by choosing a good leader for a better Nigeria.

He also urged Nigerians to be astute in their voting in 2023, avoid elevating issues that are unnecessary and consider what the candidates had done in their various communities.

Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians not to listen to bogus statistics but consider the candidates plans, especially in the areas of security, economic development, social and physical infrastructure provisions.

We should look at who have access to the sources for businesses, so that they can employ, ability to sustain the economy of our country, so that we can have a bigger pie and then we can share across the states.

Nigerians should look at who has ability to protect the integrity of our country by sustaining the military, training them well, he said.

Speaking on the religious distractions within the country, the governor stated that the election should be based on capacity, achievement instead of religion and other inconsequential considerations.

According to him, there is no point in elevating religion instead of the virtues required of a productive leadership.

If we can put our lives in the hands of doctors without asking for their religion before surgery, why then are we neglecting what we are supposed to do and doing otherwise in the name of religion.

We should not play politics under the guise of religion, he said.

The governor tasked Nigerians on fixing the country and making it better, noting that every developed nation had been lucky to have good leaders at a point in time.

He added that Nigeria would not be an exception while citing Singapore, having Lee Kuan Yew or America having Abraham Lincoln at the right time which led to rapid development of the different countries.

It is fundamental for all to do the right thing and it is in our interest to fix the country and make it a better place for all, the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, prayed that Nigeria would not miss the opportunity of choosing a good leader.

He also prayed for a peaceful and violence free election.

Earlier in his sermon, Sheik Saheed Aro enjoined leaders to always go about their responsibilities toward the nation and the people with the fear of God.

Aro said they should always be reminded that they would give account of whatever they did on earth before their maker, God Almighty, after death.

The Sheik also urged Nigerians to commit the 2023 elections into the hands of God almighty for a peaceful, free and fair election, devoid of bloodshed and rancour.

Nigerians are also advised to do the right thing at all times wherever they find themselves. They are also enjoined to always pray for their leaders to do well rather than condemn or curse them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Naira appreciated slightly against the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Friday as it exchanged at N436.33.

The rate represented a 0.04 per cent appreciation compared to the N436.50 for which the dollar exchanged on Thursday.

The open indicative rate closed at N434.83 to the dollar on Thursday.

An exchange rate of N438 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the days trading before it settled at N436.33.

The Naira sold for as low as N425 to the dollar within the days trading.

A total of 106.11 million dollars was traded at the official Investors and Exporters window on Friday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Friday inaugurated the Evergreen Energy Limited, signalling the commencement of the Calabar depot operations.

Mr George Ene-Ita, Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, South South, led his team of officials to perform the inauguration of the facility on behalf of the Authority on Friday in Calabar.

Ene-Ita said that with the inauguration of the facility, the depot was now ready to begin full operations in the area, andurged the management of the facility to maintain high safety standards within their facility.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility was first licensed in 2019, but has remained non functional ever since.

NAN also reports that the depot is expecting its first cargo vessel receipt soon.

The team from NMDPRA further inspected equipment and installations in the facility with a view to ensuring compliance to standards.

Mr Abdulrazak Hashiru, Managing Director of Evergreen Energy, promised to work in harmony with all relevant authorities to ensure a safe and seamless operational environment.

The management of the facility demonstrated their readiness in event of a fire emergency by activating the critical safety equipment including the sprinkler systems at the gantry and on the tanks respectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the reinstatement of two aggrieved directors of Green Energy International Limited, Dr Bunu Alibe and Mr Ayo Olojede, who were illegally removed by the companys management.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a judgment, described their removal from the oil company as unlawful.

Olajuwon said that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held on Nov. 12, 2020, during which Alibe and Olojede were removed, was convened in contravention of Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

The judge, who ordered that all the backlog of the directors entitlements, including salaries and allowances be paid, also awarded three million naira in favour of the duo for damages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alibe and Olojede had in a suit marked, FHC/ABJ/PET/20/2020, sued Green Energy and Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Adegbulugbe was a former Special Adviser on Energy in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The plaintiffs, in the suit which commenced via a petition, accused Adegbulugbe of series of corporate misdemeanours, including unilateral usurpation of executive responsibilities, contrary to the provisions of CAMA, 2020 and the companys Article of Association.

They claimed that they were unlawfully removed by the chairman of the company they jointly nurtured to fruition.

Responding, Adegbulugbe also filed a separate suit against the two directors before the court marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020.

Although the matter was formerly before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the case was, however, reassigned to Olajuwon following the transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court recently.

Delivering the judgement, Olajuwon said that notice of general meeting to all directors and members of a company must be given 21 days from the day it was issued.

She held that the petitioners were only given 20 days notice instead of 21 days, as required by the law, for the meeting held on Nov. 12, 2020.

According to her, Section 241 of CAMA provided a lengthy time to be provided for a meeting of a company to be held.

The judge held that the argument of the defence that Ojukwu had ordered that parties should attend the AGM as part of the efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the company and that the aggrieved directors failed to comply did not hold water.

I have carefully read the proceedings of Hon.Justice Ojukwu.

The notice of the Annual General Meeting was served before the order of the court was made and the court did not abridge the length of time for the meeting to be held.

Where the provision of the law is clear and unambiguous, the court must give it its meaning, she said.

Olajuwon, therefore, declared that all actions taken at the AGM held on Nov. 12, 2020 were null and void.

A declaration that the alleged non-election and/or removal of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent (Energy Oil) was unlawful, illegal and not in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters 2020 in that proper procedure was not followed or adopted.

A declaration that pursuant to Article 27 of the 1st respondents Articles of Association, the provisions and powers contained in Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 are neither exercisable nor applicable to the 1st respondent.

An order invalidating and setting aside the holding of the purported Annual General Meeting of 12 November, 2020 and nullifying every decision taken thereafter, including the purported non-reelection of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent.

As the petitioners are still members of the 1st respondent, the court hereby restrains the respondents whether by themselves or their servants, agents, privies or how whatsoever, from denying the petitioners any or all rights, emoluments and benefits due to them as directors of the 1st respondent, including but not limited to unhindered access to the companys offices and sites, settlement of all bonuses and financial entitlements and allowances due and or payable to them.

General damages in the sum of N3 million is hereby awarded in favour of the petitioners for their unlawful removal as directors of the 1st respondent in contravention of the provisions of CAMA 2020, the judge further declared.

She held that the petitioners were not given fair hearing in the decisions taken by the company.

The petitioners case succeeds in part because they were not given adequate notice, she said

The judge also dismissed the sister suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020, and filed by Adegbulugbe against the two directors.

Earlier, Olajuwon had also dismissed the defence motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

Olajuwon, however, dismissed the allegations levelled against Adegbulugbe that he took unilateral decisions in the running of the company and turned the firm into a family affair.

According to Olajuwon, he who asserts must prove.

She held that the two directors failed to discharge the burden of proof of the allegations as no sufficient materials were placed before her to believe so.

On the aborted Project Horizon Contract, she held that it was executed by Adegbulugbe in the interest of all the shareholders and the firm while the petitioners could not prove their allegations against him.(NAN)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

William Glenwright, International Cricket Councils (ICC) General Manager (Development), is scheduled to visit Nigeria on a tree-day working visit ahead of the U-19 World Cup Division 2 Qualifiers in Abuja.

A statement by Emeka Igwilo, General Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said Glenwright will inspect facilities in Lagos, Edo and Abuja from Sunday to Wednesday.

The visit according to Igwilo comes ahead of the ICC mens cricket World Cup Africa division 2 qualifier taking place in Abuja from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.

He said cricket has improved in Nigeria, with the country winning two development awards in the last three years.

Igwilo said the visit would further cement the federations developmental efforts in the sport.

We hope to also leverage on his coming to showcase and drive our plans deeper with various stakeholders.

Nigeria also plays a strategic role in terms of supporting the growth of the game amongst other countries, in this part of the continent.

We are involved in some facility developments in Ghana, where our ground men are supporting the Ghana Cricket Federation to upgrade their cricket pitches to meet international standard.

Ghana will be the host of the All-Africa Games in 2023 and Cricket will be featuring for the first time, so we have to offer our expertise in that regard,he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria will participate in the Qualifiers.

NAN also reports that Nigeria won the Female Initiative of the Year for Africa in 2021 and the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative Award in 2022. (NAN)()

Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Constance Athekame

The Nigerian electricity supply industry has recorded 31 deaths and nine injuries in the fourth quarter of 2021, says Nigerias regulatory agency.

The accidents involved both employees of the companies and third parties.

This is contained in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Fourth Quarter Report 2021, released late on Thursday.

The report said that the total number of incidents that occurred in the quarter under review were 40 with nine injuries and 31 deaths compared to the 49 incidents recorded in Q3 with 19 injuries and 30 deaths.

According to the report, the commission has launched investigations into all the reported incidents with a view of understanding the root causes records as well as meting out relevant sanctions against the licensees.

In line with its 2017-2020 strategic goals, the commission has intensified efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry.

Some of the safety programmes implemented by the Commission include the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on health and safety, engagement of government agencies on Right of Way (RoW) violations.

And a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators on fault clearing, it said.

The commission also said that out of the 87 mandatory health and safety reports expected from licensees in Q4, 2021, it received 75 reports against 85 submitted in the Q3.

Port Harcourt DisCo had three outstanding reports while AES Barge, Afam Power, Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, and Kano Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) each had one outstanding report for Q4.

The report said that in accordance with Section 32(1)(e) of(EPSRA), the commission continued to monitor the health and safety performance of the NESI.

In order to guarantee the delivery of safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians, the report said.

It said that the commission had developed new processes to track the submission of statutory reports, including the health and safety reports by licensees.

The report said the processes would guide the implementation of relevant actions against licensees that do not meet their obligations.

The health and safety reports were analysed in line with the provisions of Section 32(1)(e) of ESPRA for monitoring and evaluating of health and safety performance of licensees.

In order to ensure that operators abide by their responsibility of delivering safe electricity services to consumers, the report said in part. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan has called government and religious organisations to collaborate in boosting humanitarian works across the country.

Onaiyekan made the call in a keynote address titled The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, at the Caritas Nigeria Day Celebration, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration with the theme: The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, marked the 12th anniversary of Caritas humanitarian activities in the country.

Caritas activities cover Health and HIV/AIDS, Good Governance, Anti-Human Trafficking and Force Migration, Emergency Response and Humanitarian Services.

Other areas are Institutional Development and Capacity building, and Agricultural and Livelihood Interventions.

Looking forward there is need to put more effort on collaborations with government and other organisations, including religious organisations.

Caritas Nigeria has different departments in which they render humanitarian assistance to individuals, groups and society. They also have many partners, he added.

Onaiyekan also said the organisation had worked with Nigerian Government in the areas of education and health, until the civil war, when the collaboration was terminated.

It is better to collaborate than to stay apart and I think it is not too late for us to insist that we must collaborate with our government.

Once in a while, the government talk about Public Private Partnership with private business people, have they ever thought of partnership with groups like the churches and other agencies?, Onaiyekan asked.

He explained that in other countries, religious organisations were given funds to carry out humanitarian activities, adding that it was necessary for Nigeria to adopt that.

The collaboration between the church and the state must continue to grow, it is only then that we can belong to clubs of countries that are helping others.

The church need to be seen as agent of integral human development that no person should be left out.

We must continue to make our services available to everybody who ask for it. This is in line with church doctrine, he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina said the celebration was organised to showcase what Caritas has been doing and motivate men of good will to partner with the organisation.

We all know the level of the unavailability of basic necessities to Nigerians, and the responsibility of the church that is close to the people is enormous.

That is why we feel we have a duty as a church and as men and women of the faith to build hope among those who have no hope. So Caritas is a participation of the work of the church.

The church has a responsibility for her sons and daughters, men and women of goodwill, but this job has to be systemically and professionally carried out.

That is why we work in partnership with other agencies and funding partners to realize the goals and vision of Caritas, Obodoechina said.

According to him, Caritas is working on 31 projects in 35 states, touching the lives of over seven million poor and vulnerable households in the country.

In their responses, the panelists, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye from Ford Foundation, Dr Rose Uchem of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary and Rev. Fr. Maurice Kwairanga, also highlighted the need for corroboration to boost humanitarian works.

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission who spoke virtually, cautioned that the collaboration between government and the church should not lead to silencing the church or compromising the word of God.

According to Odinkalu, it would be wrong for a politician to win election on the altar of rigging and come to give thanks to God for such victory in the church.

The event attracted many stakeholder, including National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Catholic Relief Services, among others. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News