Connect with us

BIG STORY

Transporters Battle To Occupy Osun Parks, Raze Vehicle

Published

on

There was sporadic shooting at Old Garage motor park in Osogbo on Monday following attempts to take back the park that had been taken over by a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers earlier on Sunday.

Sources also said there were attacks on motor parks around Oke-Baale, Ilesa Garage, and Old Coca-Cola Area all within the Osogbo metropolis, where hoodlums attacked some union members reporting for duty.

The shooting caused panic among residents who were just commencing the day’s work, as they scampered to safety to avoid being hit by bullets.

The clashes later spread to the Ayetoro area where a member of the union was reportedly attacked with matchet and had to abandon his vehicle and ran to safety.

The vehicle was later set on fire by his assailants.

It would be recalled that about 10 members of the NURTW were reportedly injured across Osun when the forceful takeover started on Sunday.

The group behind the attacks was said to have recruited hoodlums and stormed the state secretariat of the union in Osogbo shortly after the inauguration of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun governor.

As of the time of filing this report, the alleged attackers were said to be occupying the secretariat located along Osogbo/Ilesa road.

It was also learnt that the hoodlums behind the attack injured the state Financial Secretary of the union, Sunday Akinwale, and vandalized the building as well as some vehicles parked within the premises.

Speaking with The PUNCH on the incident, the State Secretary of the Union, Osundiya Akinsola, confirmed the attack, saying he was ferried to safety by some policemen who responded to distress calls when the attackers stormed the area.

He further said, “Our Financial Secretary, Sunday Akinwale, was attacked. Our state secretariat was vandalized.

Our park at Old Coca-Cola Area in Osogbo was attacked, our members at Ijetu Motor park in Osogbo were attacked.

“A bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle belonging to the Financial Secretary parked within the premises of our state secretariat were vandalized. Those that perpetrated the attack are still there presently.

“In all, over 10 members were attacked and injured. This number included those that were attacked in Ilesa town. Those that carried out the attack wanted to forcefully take over the leadership of the union.

“The ring leader of the attack is not one of our officials. He wanted to forcefully take over the union. He has shown interest in becoming the State Chairman and his ambition is against the Constitution of our union. We have informed the police, the Department of State Services, and even the family of the new governor about activities of these miscreants.”

He urged the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to restore sanity into operations of the union and stop those carrying out the attacks before they cause more breach of peace.

The Osun State Police Command Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, could not be reached for comment on Monday.

She did not pick calls nor respond to a text message sent to her line on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, warned against violence and directed security agencies to maintain law and order.

The statement further read in part, “The Governor, Senator Adeleke, has warned against violence among transport workers’ unions in the state, directing security agencies to maintain status quo across the motor parks.

“All union leaders and their supporters are hereby directed to remain calm and bring any grievances to the State Government for resolution. Security agencies are consequently directed to maintain law and order.”

BIG STORY

Federal Government To Grant Mining Licenses To Only Companies That Process Locally

Published

on

Nigeria will only grant new mining licences to companies that present a plan on how minerals would be processed locally, under new guidelines being developed, a government spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

This is a departure from Nigeria’s long-standing practice of exporting raw commodities, as governments around Africa work to increase the value derived from their substantial mineral reserves.

To spur investment, Nigeria will offer investors incentives including tax waivers for importing mining equipment, make it easier to secure electricity generation licences, allow full repatriation of profits and boost security, Segun Tomori, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s minister of solid minerals development said.

“In exchange, we have to review their plans for setting up a plant and how they would add value to the Nigerian economy,” Tomori said. He did not say when the guidelines would be finalised or come into effect.

However, last week the minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, said it was now government policy to make value addition a condition for obtaining licences so as to create jobs and help local communities.

Alake, who also chairs an African mining strategy group comprising mining ministers from Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia, is pushing for a continent-wide effort to get maximum local benefit from mineral exploration.

Nigeria, Africa’s top energy producer, has struggled to extract value from its vast mineral resources due to poor incentives and neglect. The underdeveloped mining sector contributes less than 1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Last year Nigeria exported mostly tin ore and concentrates worth about 137.59 billion naira ($108.34 million), mainly to China and Malaysia, according to the country’s statistics bureau.

The government aims to drive more investment into the sector by issuing more licenses. It has set up a state-owned solid minerals corporation offering investors a 75% stake and established a special security unit tasked with fighting illegal miners.

The government is also trying to regulate artisanal miners, who dominate the sector, by grouping them into cooperatives.

Foreign mining companies operating in Nigeria include Canada-based Thor Explorations which is involved in gold exploration, Chinese-owned Xiang Hui International Mining which partnered with a local company to process gold, and Indian-owned African Natural Resources and Mines, which is building a $600m iron ore processing plant in northern Nigeria.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Felicitates President Tinubu At 72

Published

on

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 72nd birthday, describing him as a brave, bold, and passionate leader who is dedicated to the advancement, growth, and development of Nigeria.

He said that President Tinubu’s contribution to the nation’s growth is cause for celebration, citing the President’s unparalleled bravery, integrity, honesty, and patriotism in his efforts to steer Nigeria’s ship in the correct path since he into office on May 29, 2023.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said President Tinubu has provided honest and transparent leadership in Nigeria by taking bold decisions to address challenges militating against the prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu further described the President as a visionary and master strategist whose democratic credentials are scholarly materials for study in political economy.

He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, the people of Lagos State,  members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), leaders, and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, I congratulate our leader, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday.

“President Tinubu has sacrificed the greater part of his life in the service of our dear State and Nigeria. He contributed to the enthronement of democracy and good governance, serving first as a Senator in the aborted third republic and later as a pro-democracy activist, working tirelessly as a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to struggle for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“President Tinubu’s financial wizardry and economic intellect, which he put to good use as the Governor of Lagos State, have taken our dear state to a greater height. Today, Lagos is the pride of Nigeria, occupying an enviable position as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

“President Tinubu has made positive impacts in the country through the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration. His unblemished service and track record of impressive achievements in public office have made him a role model for many Nigerians.

“As President Tinubu celebrates his 72nd birthday, it is our prayer that God will grant him more prosperous years in good health and wisdom as he continues to serve our dear nation.”

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

JUST IN: CBN Increases Banks Capital Base To N500bn, N200bn For National Commercial Banks

Published

on

The capital basis for commercial banks with international permission has been raised to N500 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The policy change was confirmed by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications. in a declaration.

She added that commercial banks with regional authorization are expected to reach a capital floor of N50 billion, while those with national authority must meet a ceiling of N200 billion.

Announced on Thursday, March 28, 2024, this comprehensive financial reform requires significant increases in banks’ minimum capital bases, which vary depending on the size of the bank.

The latest policy directive specifies that commercial banks with international authorization are now required to shore up their capital base to N500 billion.

In a bid to tighten the financial fabric, the CBN has not overlooked merchant banks, which are now subject to a N50 billion minimum capital requirement.

Continue Reading

Most Popular