Author: Kenneth Jukpor

The African Development Bank has announced the appointment of Mr. Ifechukwude Emmanuel Ezinwa as Acting Director, Human Resources Operations, Recruitment and Client Services Department. AfDB disclosed this via a statement issued on Friday by the bank’s Corporate Communications department, indicating that the appointment took effect from July 1st, 2022. Prior to his new appointment, the Nigerian-born Ezinwa, was the Manager, Human Resources, Client Relations and Staff Engagement Division in the Human Resources Operations, Recruitment and Client Services Department of the People and Talent Management Complex of the bank. Mr. Ezinwa is a seasoned people management professional with diverse international experience…

The Federal Government has put up the Onitsha River Port in Anambra State on concession for N4billion under a public-private partnership arrangement, as it targets to earn N23billion from the deal in 30 years. Maritime observers have noter that for about five years, the government and investors had been engaged in discussions on the concession of the facility. On Thursday, a concessionaire, Universal Elysium Consortium, was announced as the preferred bidder for the port after an open bid process. Universal Elysium Consortium is comprised of Universal Elysium Limited (lead Investor), China National Electrical Engineering Limited (EPC contractor), Port of ANTWERP…

Amid the festivities and glamourous outings that have characterized activities of women groups in Nigeria’s maritime sector, one might tend to lose sight of the core focus which is to avail quality mentorship that inspires young girls to build successful careers in maritime; but African Women in Maritime (WIMAFRICA) has recorded a big win for Nigeria this week. While WIMAFRICA carries out lots of advocacy for gender balance and equal opportunities at the workplace, true mentorship is also being carried out by the association as epitomized by Sandra Okoli, a marine surveyor, who lauds WIMAFRICA and it’s former Continental President,…

NCS rakes in N522bn in six months at Apapa Amid concerns that officers of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been unwilling to utilize scanners deployed at Apapa Port, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf has given reasons for the non-functional state of the scanners at Apapa. Comptroller Malanta revealed this during a press briefing at the Command today, where he disclosed that Customs have collected over N522billion revenue in the first half of the year 2022. The Area Controller posited that the ongoing standard gauge rail construction in Apapa port goes through the Customs scanner, hence,…

As part of efforts to ease the access to Lekki deep seaport, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, assured residents and road users that the ongoing rehabilitation of some major roads across around the Lekki environs will be completed in two months. The Governor said that work on Ibeju-Lekki/Epe Road and some road modifications around Marina would be completed in the next two months to end the hardship road users may be going through. Sanwo-Olu stated this in Epe yesterday, while commissioning a 961-capacity mini stadium and the rebuilt of 339-store Oluwo fish market undertaken by the senator representing Lagos…

NMDPRA, IPMAN dispute N74bn payment to oil marketers Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), yesterday, said it had suspended plans to sell its onshore oil assets in Nigeria, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, which said it had to wait for the outcome of an appeal over a 2019 oil spill. The Managing Director of SPDC and Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, in a statement, said: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) complies with the law, including any court orders, and respects the judiciary and its role in upholding the rule…

Amid the growing business of illegal harvesting of human organs in Nigeria, medical doctors have given reasons black market or underground/illegal dealings in organ donation, harvesting and transplantation thrive in Nigeria. Some of the factors identified include; lack of regulation and enforcement of medical ethics, poverty, inequality and unconscionable medical practitioners as facilitators. To address the situation, the experts called for the establishment of central coordination of organ transplantation similar to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as well as direct investment, funding and legal framework for transplantation in Nigeria. A consultant psychiatrist and former Chief Medical Director…

A civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted the alleged diversion of $7 billion petrol subsidy under the current administration and threatened to sue the federal government. In a statement, National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged civil society organisations and rights activists to drag the government to court. He said: “The claim of the House of Representatives on diversion of petrol subsidy to the tune of $7 billion, if substantiated, is another proof that the government of President Buhari is infested with corrupt people who pretend to be saints.” The National Coordinator, Comrade…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the state is ready and safe to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in different areas of business. Diri, who led a team to the United States of America for both trade and cultural events in New York and New Jersey, said Bayelsa State is rich beyond oil and gas resources and that his government desires to tap the agriculture potential of the state. The governor made the remarks while addressing Nigerians at a dinner hosted in his honour by Consul-General, Amb. Lot Egopija and Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Amb.…

A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced a dismissed police sergeant, James Imhalu, to death by hanging for the murder of a commercial driver in 2015 over his refusal to pay a bribe of N100. Justice Elsie Thompson, while delivering her judgment, said evidence before the court showed that the sacked sergeant intentionally fired a shot at the commercial driver, Legbara David, at Whimpey Junction, Port Harcourt. Justice Thompson described Imhalu as a serial trigger-happy policeman who should not be allowed to remain in the society. The prosecution counsel, Kingsley Briggs, said the judgement would serve…