Stakeholders back Uzodimma on new Imo University of Agric

Stakeholders from Umuagwo in Imo State,  have lent  their  support to Governor  Hope Uzodinma’s  plan to establish  a new Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences on their land.

The stakeholders had hitherto vehemently battled with past administrations against the establishment of the university because of the provision of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and multi campus arrangement in the law establishing the university.

The stakeholders said they believed that the PPP provision was  a ploy by a former governor to take over the university after leaving office, insisting that it must be 100  percent owned by the government.

Lagos To Begin Meter Production

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is working towards local production of affordable smart meters to improve electricity supply in the state.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, an engineer, said the state was targetting innovative metering solutions.

He spoke at a briefing on the 365 days of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos.

Towards achieving the administration’s agenda, the ministry has accelerated a light-up programme, electrification of public infrastructure, clean energy initiatives, local capacity building and oil and gas interventions.He said the accelerated power programme aimed at facilitating electricity distribution to under-served and unserved communities will be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on low-income communities.

Odusote said the governor has approved the procurement and installation of 20,000 metres for communities in Lagos, adding that the ministry has also concluded an electricity franchising agreement with distribution companies.

“We have also launched a smart meter design programme to increase meter penetration in the state by leveraging local capacity towards improving electricity distribution and monitoring,” the commissioner said.

The Nation

Nigeria may lose 24 councils to new UN state

‘Obasanjo, Biya ceded territories in 2003’

By July 10 this year, Nigeria may lose 24 local councils, by way of ceding, to a new country to be known as United Nations Organisation (UNO) State of Cameroon at its borders with la Republique du Cameroun.

The Guardian learnt that the withdrawal of his country’s soldiers by President Paul Biya from the southern part of the planned UNO State of Cameroon has set the stage for the creation of the new state being spearheaded by the UN.

The Guardian

Egypt Opposes Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination for WTO’s Top Job

The nomination of former Minister of Finance under the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the World Trade Organisation top job seem to have run into troubled waters as Egypt has requested that her nomination to contest for the office of the director-general should not be recognised.

In a letter to States of the African Union, Egypt contended that her nomination was out of time and therefore flew in the face of the rules of nomination which import they said, was that Nigeria no longer had a candidate for the position.

The Guardian

Bandits kill 21 in Zamfara communities

Twenty-one people have been killed by gunmen in separate attacks in Talata Mafara and Maru local government areas of Zamfara State, the police and residents said.

The attacks, it was learnt, occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to the police, 21 people were killed in the attacks, but residents of the affected communities put the casualty figure at 25.

Interstate travels likely from June 21

Nigeria will likely be permitted to travel freely across the states from June 21 as the government continues the gradual opening of businesses shut down to prevent COVID-19 spread.

Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmed announced this on his verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

Interstate movement may resume on June 21,the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, Dr.Sani Aliyu gave the hint recently as domestic flights are also expected to resume June 21”,Ahmed tweeted.

Twitter accuses President of making ‘false claims’

Twitter has accused the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump  of making false claims, in one of the app’s own articles covering the news.

The move – which effectively accuses the leader of lying – refers to a tweet by Donald Trump about his first defence secretary.

Trump had tweeted that he had given James Mattis the nickname “Mad Dog” and later fired him.But, Twitter’s article says that the former general resigned, and his nickname preceded Trump’s presidency.

It follows last week’s explosive confrontation, which saw Twitter fact-check two of President Trump’s tweets and label another as glorifying violence.

The latest confrontation was prompted by a strongly-worded statement issued by General Mattis last night, in which he criticised the president’s handling of the protests that followed the killing of George Floyd.

source: The Nation