Category: Metro

Techno Oil to provide 24 hours service to tackle fuel scarcity

Techno Oil to provide 24 hours service to tackle fuel scarcity

 

 

 

 

The management of Techno Oil Ltd. has directed its outlets nationwide to make fuel sales to motorists round the clock, to mitigate the hardships facing Nigerians currently.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Tony Onyeama, made the announcement on Monday in Lagos while speaking on the efforts of the company to end the current crippling fuel scarcity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians are currently facing another round of a nerve-wracking fuel scarcity that has forced motorists nationwide to queue for hours at filling stations, in a bid to buy fuel.

“We have directed our outlets nationwide to dispense fuel to marketers and to motorists, to assist government in its relentless and ongoing efforts to end the latest round of fuel scarcity.

“Our fuel sales outlets are open round the clock to give needed services to the public, to bring the fuel scarcity problem to an end.’’

Onyeama pleaded with oil marketers to give necessary support to the Federal Government to ensure fuel availability at a time like now, to ease the suffering faced by the masses.

According to him, Techno Oil has always come to the rescue as a leading oil marketer in moments of fuel scarcity in the country.

Nigeria, Africa’s top crude exporter has been plagued by a recurrent fuel scarcity crisis that appears to be posing a serious threat to a landmark general election, slated for this month.

The situation appears to look worrisome with the problem compounded by the prevailing crisis in the financial sector, caused by the redesign of the naira currency.

The redesign of the naira, which is being carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria has resulted to an acute shortage of money in banks and automated teller machines in the country.

The development has forced hundreds of people to besiege various banks in a bid to withdraw money, while scores of point of sale operators have been forced out of business, due to a lack of cash.

Similarly, many small holder businesses have been forced to close shops, due to a lack of patronage.

Lagos blue rail lines to be ready by Dec. 31, 2022 – Official


The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has said that the Lagos Blue rail lines will be operational by Dec. 31, 2022.

The Railway Engineer of LAMATA, Mr Joseph Akinpelu, said this when he led 57 Students of Leisure and Tourism Management (LTM), Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech), Epe campus, on sensitisation of the Blue Rail Line Station at National Theartre, Lagos.

Our correspondent reports that the blue line from Okokomaiko in Lagos West on Lagos-Badagry Expressway after Lagos State University (LASU) is to come from Okokomaiko to Mile 2 through Orile, elevated to pass the National Arts Theatre, then sea crossing and finally end up in Marina was started by Babatunde Fashola’s administration in , was conceived by Sanwo-Olu-led administration.

While explaining the potentials and benefits of the project to the students, he said some of the station would be integrated with other modes of transportation.

Akinpelu said that some of the stations would have feeder bus stations working with the railway operation to give passengers transportation option.

“At Mile 2, we are going to have an option of water transportation so that Lagosians can choose any of the mode of transportation for easier access to their destinations.

“The Blue line railway operation will reduce traffic congestion due to various option that will be available at the end of the completion of the rail project.

“Lagosians should expect a very robust transportation at the end of 2022, they should expect fear price and enjoyable infrastructure in the transport sector,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Ewaola Koya, Head of Department (HOD), Leisure and Tourism Management, YabaTech, said the students came for exposure on the theoretical aspect of transport operations and management course.

Koya said that the outing would enable the students to implement the theory and physical exposure of the different mode of transportation to enable them have broad knowledge of transportation in the industry

One of the HND two students, Miss Hanna Peter, they were well-informed now about the Blue Rail Line line, adding that it would definitely reduce traffic on Lagos roads.

She said that Lagos and traffic was inseparable that with the blue line traffic hold ups would be a thing of the pass.

Also speaking, one of the HND one students, said the Blue Rail Line would integrate manual to electronic technology which would be more convenient for Lagos residents.

NGE solicits security agencies, media collaboration in fight against insecurity


The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called for healthy and harmonious collaboration between the media and the security agencies in the fight against insecurity across the country.
The guild said the problem of insecurity is taking a huge toll on societal life and posting negative development indices in several areas.
This is contained in a communique on Monday in Abuja, signed by the NGE President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, at the end of a conference, with the theme: Media In Times of Crises: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus.
Participants said that peace and development, which are germane to further advancement of Nigeria, cannot thrive in times of crises.
They added that governments at all levels have a huge responsibility to defend, protect and provide for its citizens.
“The insecurity crises stem from leadership failure that has bedevilled the country for many years.
‘’There are fears in some quarters that editors and media professionals seem to have taken sides in the raging crises.
“Journalists and security agents who are first line responders to every flash points appear locked in mutual suspicion,” they said.
The NGE also noted that journalists were often times impaired and harassed by security agents from carrying out their professional responsibilities, adding that peace and development cannot thrive in times of crises.
They maintained that the agitations for self-determination, which are raging in the South-east, South-west and the South-south regions do not augur well for the unity of the country.
“There’s the absolute need for healthy and harmonious collaboration between the media and the security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
‘’Also, there is a need for security agents to appreciate the role of Journalists and media professionals and refrain from anything that will abridge it,” they said.
The Guild advised editors and other media professionals to ensure that they are conflict-sensitive and ensure they do not publish stories that are capable of inflaming ethnic, regional and religious passion.
They called for urgent need to tackle the monster of misinformation and sanitize the media against unprofessional and unethical behaviour.
The conference also called on government to support the survival of the media as part of the task of building the nation’s democracy and avoid any acts that would put the media in chains.
While calling on the federal government to confront issues that have given rise to the demands of the different self-determination groups, the conference advised it to endeavour to deal with the different sections of the country on the basis of fairness, equity and justice.
‘’There is need for government to ensure that its policies and actions are sensitive to the multi ethnic and religious makeup of the country.
‘’Government needs to commit more resources to education, healthcare and tackle the rising costs of food and other social services’’, the conference stated,” they said.
The News Agency Nigeria reports that the NGE’s two-day conference was rounded up with a 60th Anniversary Dinner, which featured the induction of eight new Fellows and 13 new members.

Newly inaugurated Tin-Can-port jetty to take 2m commuters off Lagos gridlock daily – FG


The Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, has said that the inauguration of a jetty at the Tin Can Island Port would take-off two million commuters from the Lagos gridlock daily.

Mamora made the disclosure in a statement signed on Saturday, by the Lagos area manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mrs Sarat Braimoh.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minister had inaugurated the Tin Can jetty constructed by the Federal Government in Lagos and handed over to NIWA.

The minister said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had promised that no part of the country would suffer any neglect, owing to its geographical location or political affiliation.

The former senator said that the inauguration of the new jetty would address the menace of pollution and siltation that had been affecting water transportation in Lagos.

He said: “It is estimated that an average of six million commuter’s transit from the Lagos mainland to Lagos Island daily.

“Which equally takes travel time of about three hours, whereas ferry transportation, through the inland waterways, will take thirty 30 minutes to reach the destination.

“This means of transportation will equally take off about two million commuters from the Lagos gridlock.’’

Mamora said that the project was approved in the fourth quarter of 2018, with the aim of addressing the menace of pollution, which had been a major problem hampering water transportation on some of the ferry routes in Lagos.

“The intervention by the Federal Government on the construction of the jetty will bring about a huge relief and assuage the fear of erosion and other ecological challenges in the Tin Can area.

“Hence, NIWA had identified the CMS – Mile 2, as the busiest ferry route, with high pollution rate along the river banks, as well as siltation along the ferry channel.’’

The minister said that these challenges had negatively affected ferry services as marine litter and the shallow channels had made service operators to avoid those routes.

He noted that the dream, however, was to resuscitate, upgrade the existing jetties and make the ferry route operational through the removal of silt and solid wastes along the channels.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu said the Iko community were the major beneficiaries of the Federal Government project.

While addressing the community leaders, who graced the commissioning, Moghalu appealed to them to see the project as their own and they should manage and protect it.

“One thing we have noticed is that in spite of the limited resources available to government, it develops projects, but people disregard and mismanage them, and at the end of the day turn back to blame the government.

“We have received enough support from the government of the day, it is the desire of government to make water transportation, particularly inland water transportation, a means of choice for movement of goods and services.”

In her address of welcome, Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Dr Habiba Lawal, said that the Federal Government had received a lot of requests regarding the need and desirability of the project.

She said that government had embarked on the project as a result of imminent danger posed by the devastating recurring erosion and flooding that had being threatening the lives and properties of these communities.

Lawal said the risk of shoreline erosion and its negative consequences necessitated the prompt intervention by the Federal Government to effect a holistic approach to the control of the flooding that trigger the shoreline erosion menace caused by high ocean current/tidal waves over the years.

The EFO official said it was their conviction that the project would provide succour to the communities, whose lives and properties were in danger.

Catholic women raise funds to complete Abuja boys school


The Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON) on Saturday indicated that its fund-raising, organised in Lagos, was to advance its Cot Mariae boys boarding school project in Gariki, Abuja.

Our correspondent in Lagos quoted CWON as saying that the school project is part of its ways of responding to the myriad of societal deformity the Nigerian child faces, especially in access to quality education.

Speaking at the 2021 CWON National Conference and Fundraising, held at the ST. Leo’s Church Ikeja, Lagos, the organisation’s President, Dame Mary Asibi-Gonsum, said that the success of the school depended on the collective efforts of members and the friends of the body.

Asibi-Gonsum, who decried the failing standard of education in recent times, said the school in its third year with pupils in JSS 3 as the highest class, was established to bridge the gap in quality education laden with good moral and catholic character moulding doctrine.

“CWON is an umbrella body and focal point for all Catholic women in Nigeria, though a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) and non profit one, is committed to the welfare of the family and by extension the society for the common good.

“We have the knack for a holistic evangelism and the transformation of the society as enshrined in the scripture for the physical reform of mankind and salvation of souls.

“The CWON has lived up to the expectations of its founders. The establishment of the Mariae college for the training of the boy child is conceptualised to making a good home and society too.

“The boy of today will become the man, husband and father of tomorrow being the head of home. If given proper upbringing and education, he will in turn impact on the family that is under his control. In that regard, peace and good conduct will be fostered in the society,” she said.

The CWON president, who noted that a society will not advance beyond the intellectual capacity of its citizenry, implored the people to support the young college to get some of the aids to learning facilities it lacks.

The CWON boss, who envisaged a turn around in the boy-child education when the Mariae college dream comes to stream, listed a multi purpose hall, science laboratories, an ICT centre, library and more classrooms as projects the organisation intends to raise fund for.

She added that the school, accessible to non Catholics, would as much as practicable be made cheap for the average person to attend, while a window of scholarship would be made available for indigent pupils.

In his remark at event, Chairman of the conference, Dr Uche Okere, said that the women were a force to bank on in every strata of the society.

Okere pledged support for the school project and asked the women to harness their goodwill that transends the gospel community to achieve the project.

Our correspondent report that the theme for the conference was “Let’s Us Think and Act the Heart of Mary”

FAAN trains 121 aviation security personnel


The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has completed the training of 121 aviation security officers.

This is contained in a statement by General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Saturday in Lagos.

Yakubu said that the security officers were drawn from Abuja, Maiduguri, Yola, Jos, Gombe, Dutse and Sokoto.

Others came from Zaria, Kaduna, Kebbi, Makurdi and Katsina airports.

She said that the personnel were taken through the mandatory six weeks Security Training Programme 123 Basic Course, which was both intellectual and physical.

According to her, “Some of the topics taken during the course include overview of legislation, access control, people and vehicle, airport emergency (Basic fire prevention).

Others were screening procedures, x-ray image interpretation, effective communication, protection of parked aircraft, cargo and mail security and first aid training, among others.

Yakubu said: “In accordance with the requirements of the National Civil Aviation Security Training Programme (NCASTP), the trainees all attained the 70 per cent pass mark before graduating”.

Nig @ 61: Cleric urges Nigerians to shun negative tendencies


Rev. Adedoyin Adeyinka, the pastor in charge of the House of Truth Church, has advised religious leaders and Nigerians to shun negative tendencies and promote the truth at all times.
The church leader noted that this was imperative to fast track the nation’s growth and stability.
Adeyinka gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja in an interview with our correspondent on Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary.

“God despises negative vices like kidnapping, banditary and chaos and so should we,” he said.
“I will advise Nigerians to choose life henceforth and better days for growth, improvememt and progress.
“We see Nigerians speaking negatively, which has resulted to negative effects.
“It is time to try something else, which is speaking positively for efficiency and development of the nation,” he added.
To buttress his appeal, the cleric quoted the book of Peter 3:10, which says “Who soever would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
Adeyinka also urged Nigerians to embrace one another, so as to erase the negative tendencies among them and promote mutual coexistence.
“Let us begin to see Nigeria as a blessed nation and God will abide in it and in our decisions,” he stressed.
The cleric prayed that the nation’s 61st independence anniversary would usher in light into the country.
He also warned Nigerians to take counsel from God ahead of the 2023 general elections, for justice and fairness to prevail in the country.
The pastor reminded Nigerians that power belonged to God, as such should seek God’s favours at all times.

FRSC, LASEMA rescue 4 victims trapped under fallen container


The Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command, says four people who were trapped by a fallen container have been rescued alive.

The Corps Commander, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, signed by the Route Commander, FRSC Public Education Officer, Mrs Olabisi Sonusi.

our correspondent reports that the accident occurred around 6:38 p.m. at the Abati Barracks, Funsho Williams Avenue, Ojuelegba.

It involved a 40ft-containerised truck that fell on a Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 822 FZ.

Ogungbemide said that the crash left all the occupants of the car trapped under the fallen truck.

“The four occupants trapped in the car have been rescued alive. They are being attended to by LASAMBUS.

“The recovery was carried out by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) forklift with the support of response teams of the FRSC, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA),” Ogungbemide said.

He warned owners of articulated vehicles, not maintaining minimum safety standards, to keep such vehicles off the road for the sake of innocent motoring public or face the wrath of the law.

He reaffirmed that the crash would have been more devastating if not for the fact that the container was properly twist locked.

He commended all the rescue agencies for their swift response that assisted in rescuing the trapped victims alive.

The sector commander commended the Lagos State Government for providing state-of-the-art rescue equipment that made the operations seamless.

He, however, advised the motoring public to be more careful, especially as the nation enters the “ember months“ in which economic activities peak.

Ogungbemide pleaded with motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with the emergency teams.

FG partners Hungarian coy on aircraft assembly, manufacturing plant

 The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner the Magnus Aircraft Manufacturing industry in Hungary to establish an assembly plant in the country.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said this in a statement by the ministry’s Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, in Lagos on Tuesday.

Sirika had expressed the interest of the Federal Government when he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary on Monday.

He said: “if we venture with them, we may start with assembly plant and later manufacturing in the country.

“Magnus aircraft is an aeroplane that is good for military training, has capability for aerobatic maneuvering and is made of fully composite materials with high strength and very light weight.”

Sirika said he was satisfied with the features of the aircraft and was willing to facilitate the production of the aeroplanes in the country.

The minister added that one of the significant features of the Magnus aircraft was that it used normal car petrol and outperformed any training aircraft of its kind.

He said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer would be subjected to further analysis to verify the market and government’s willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics.

Sirika emphasised that the local production of aircraft in the country would facilitate the growth of Nigeria as a regional aviation super power.

According to him, this will also come with maintenance and repair facilities that will attract patronage from neighbouring countries.

The minister said the present administration had created an attractive environment for international investors in the country, especially in the aviation sector.

He said this included the ongoing implementation of the development roadmap, which placed emphasis on public private partnerships. 

President Buhari re-appoints Oloyede as JAMB Registrar

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as  Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)  for another five years.

Buhari also approved the reappointment of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Adamu Rasheed, for another five years tenure.

The approval is contained in a statement  by Mr Ben Goong, Director, Press and Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Education and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the re-appointment takes effect on Aug. 1.

It also noted that the Chief Executive Officer, National Mathematical Center, Prof. Promise Mebine, was also reappointment for another five years.

The statement further said that Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) alongside Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, (TRCN) were also reappointed for another four years.

It added that the president had earlier approved the reappointed of  Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, Registrar,  National Business and Technical Examination Board, (NABTEB) for a second term of four years.

The statement added that her reappointment was  to sustain the efforts at sensitising Nigerians on the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)  and business subjects in the new knowledge economy.