Eterna Plc appoints Adeosun as new MD/CEO

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The Board of Directors of Eterna Plc has announced the appointment of Mr Olumide Adeosun as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company.

The appointment takes effect from Feb. 3.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday by Mr David Edet, the Company’s Secretary/Legal Adviser.

Edet commended the outgoing MD/CEO, Mr Abiola Lawal, who resigned effective Jan. 31, for his “exceptional leadership and significant contributions during his tenure.“

The Board congratulated Adeosun on his appointment and wished him “great success in his new role.”

Prior to his new appointment, Adeosun served as Group Executive Director at Rainoil Limited and as a Non-Executive Director at Eterna Industries Limited.

He is also the immediate past Chairman of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and a dedicated advocate for clean energy.

He serves on the advisory boards of renewable energy firms and consultancies.

Adeosun is a finance and energy expert with over 25 years of experience in both sectors.

He began his career as a Business Analyst under the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) UK graduate programme in London.

He later moved to BP Plc, where he held various senior roles in upstream finance, business support, and commercial operations.

In BP’s Strategic Origination team, Adeosun played a pivotal role in developing BP’s Africa trading strategy, which led to the establishment of BP Global West Africa Ltd in Nigeria.

Read Also: LASTMA rescued 1,075 from road crashes in 2024 – GM

As Vice President of Commercial Development, he spearheaded initiatives that led to a 300 per cent revenue growth within three years.

Adeosun’s experience also includes his time at PwC’s West Africa Energy Advisory team in Lagos, where he led transactions raising over $1.5 billion in infrastructure and energy investments.

He also oversaw the acquisition of a leading multinational midstream and downstream company.

In 2019, Adeosun was appointed CEO of Ardova Plc, where heexecuted a five-year transformation strategy focused on LPG and renewable energy.

He also led the successful bid for a majority stake in the Olua Field on OML 25, establishing a joint venture in record time.

Adeosun is a Member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors, and a Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Woodbury University, California, and an MSc in Mathematics from Royal Holloway, University of London.

(NAN)

LASTMA rescued 1,075 from road crashes in 2024 – GM

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued 1,075 lives from road accident across the state 2024.

The General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki attributed the achievement to the authority’s unwavering dedication to preserving lives, optimising traffic flow, and executing timely interventions throughout Lagos State.

He added that the agency proficiently addressed 2,051 road traffic incidents, encompassing an astonishing 3,754 vehicles.

“These incidents were meticulously categorised as 143 fatal accidents, 502 severe accidents and 1,406 minor accidents.

“This monumental achievement underscores LASTMA’s pivotal role in curbing fatalities and mitigating the grievous repercussions of road mishaps,” he said.

He said that in tandem with its accident response efforts, LASTMA skillfully resolved 5,108 cases of vehicular breakdowns, underscoring its operational dexterity and technical acumen.

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“The breakdown cases comprised: 423 cars, 746 buses, 219 SUVs, 1,649 trucks, 400 tankers, 535 trailers and 1,118 others.

“LASTMA’s prompt intervention ensured timely relief for stranded motorists, effectively averting potential traffic bottlenecks and secondary accidents,” he said.

He noted that as part of its commitment to fostering proactive public engagement and enhancing service delivery, LASTMA inaugurated a toll-free hotline (080000527862).

This, he said, enabled Lagos residents to report traffic obstructions, vehicular breakdowns, emergencies, and the conduct of LASTMA personnel.

“The hotline received 3,567 calls across multiple languages, including English, Pidgin, and Yoruba.

Of these calls over 3,450 cases were expediently resolved, while remaining 117 cases were escalated for further attention.

“Additionally, the launch of the Physical Complaint Centre recorded 2,056 physical cases, of which 1,968 were successfully addressed, with 88 cases transferred for advanced resolution.

“These pioneering platforms have significantly bolstered LASTMA’s capacity to respond swiftly to crises and address public grievances, further entrenching its reputation as a responsive and citizen-centric institution,” he said.

He said that the commendable milestones achieved in 2024 embody LASTMA’s steadfast commitment to its mission of cultivating safer roads and an efficient traffic management system in Lagos State.

He said the agency remained resolute in harnessing advanced technology, fostering public collaboration, and enhancing the proficiency of its personnel to deliver unparalleled traffic management services.

Bakare-Oki extended heartfelt appreciation to the general public particularly motoring public for their unwavering cooperation and reiterated LASTMA’s resolve to uphold its dedication to excellence in service delivery.

(NAN)

FULL LIST: Telcos to disconnect Nine banks USSD codes January 27

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

Telecommunication companies acting under the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in a notice on Wednesday said it will cut off the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) access of nine banks over their inability to settle a N160 billion debt that has accumulated since 2019.

According to the NCC, telcos will disconnect the USSD access of these banks by Monday, January 27, 2025, if they do not pay their debt.

“In fulfilment of its consumer protection mandate, the Commission wishes to inform consumers that they may be unable to access the USSD platform of the affected financial institutions from January 27, 2025,” the NCC said.

Read Also: FULL LIST: Six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

Here are the banks and their USSD codes:

1. Fidelity Bank Plc (770),

2. First City Monument Bank (329),

3. Jaiz Bank Plc (773),

4. Polaris Bank Limited (833),

5. Sterling Bank Limited (822),

6. United Bank for Africa Plc (919),

7. Unity Bank Plc (7799),

8. Wema Bank Plc (945), and

9. Zenith Bank Plc (966).

FULL LIST: Wike revokes 568 land allocations over unpaid C-of-O fees

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the allocation of 568 plots of land in Abuja’s Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, due to non-payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees.

The minister in a public notice, explained that the allottees of the plots of land in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, failed to pay for their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) bills after the expiration of the grace period granted by the minister.

According to the Minister, the revocation is in line with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which allows the withdrawal of land allocations when the terms of the grant are not met.

The notice added that only those who had not made full payments by January 15, 2025, would be affected by the decision.

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The notice read, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) wishes to inform the allottee(s)/title holder(s) of plot(s) of land in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, who have failed to pay for their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) bills after the expiration of the grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory, that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of the grant which obligated the title/interest holders to settle all bills.

“The general public is, however, invited to note that allottees/title holders who have completed their payments on or before 15/01/2025 are not affected by this publication.

“For ease of reference, the names of the allottees/title holders whose titles have been withdrawn are: For further information, kindly visit AGIS Website: https://agis.fcta.gov.ng/ or FCTA Website: www.fcta.gov.ng.”

Here is the list of 568 land revoked by Wike over unpaid C-of-O fees

NAPTIP rescued 253 victims in Borno in 2024

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

Maiduguri Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it rescued 253 victims of human trafficking and other related offences in 2024.

The Zonal Commander, Mohammed Barde, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Maiduguri.

He revealed that out of the 253 victims, 163 were minors aged between 0-17 years, comprising 105 females and 58 males, while the remaining 90 were adult men and women.

“In addition to rescuing victims, the command secured nine convictions for various offences in 2024.

“The victims were provided with legal and medical support, rehabilitation, and reintegration services.

“Family tracing and reunification efforts were also carried out, while some of the victims were empowered to rebuild their lives,” Barde said.

Read Also: FULL LIST: Six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

He said that the agency was also engaged in preventive measures like extensive sensitization campaigns in markets, schools, communities, and motor parks.

The campaigns, he noted, were aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

According to Barde, stakeholders engagement remained a key focus area for the command to enhance collaboration in the fight against trafficking.

He commended the support of community leaders, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders in the efforts to combat trafficking in persons and ensure the safety of victims.

Barde reiterated NAPTIP’s commitment to intensifying efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and prosecute offenders to create a safer society.

(NAN)

Tinubu congratulates six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six distinguished Nigerian scientists in the Diaspora, named among the 400 Presidential Early Career Award recipients for Scientists and Engineers in the United States.

The prestigious recognition which was established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.

This year’s awardees, announced by President Joe Biden on January 14, 2025, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies.

In a statement on Thursday, January 15, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President commended the Nigerians for their remarkable achievements in science, technology and engineering.

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The statement added, “The Nigerian honorees include Azeez Butali, Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University; and Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

“Others are Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University; Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University; and Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University.

“The Nigerian leader notes that recognising these exceptional talents underscores Nigerians’ vast potential to excel both at home and on the global stage.

“He looks forward to the honorees sharing their multidisciplinary expertise to benefit Nigeria’s development efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

FULL LIST: Six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

Six Nigerian scientists and Engineers in Diaspora have been named among the 400 Presidential Early Career Award recipients for Scientists and Engineers in the United States.

This year’s awardees, announced by President Joe Biden on January 14, 2025, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies.

Read Also: Biden grants Cyprus access to 3 U.S. military programmes

Here are six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

1. Azeez Butali, Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa;

2. Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University;

3. Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

4. Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University;

5. Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University;

6. Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University.

Biden grants Cyprus access to 3 U.S. military programmes

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The outgoing U.S. President, Joe Biden has signed an order granting the Republic of Cyprus access to three key U.S. military programmes, Greek media reported on Thursday.

Cyprus has joined the Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Excess Defence Articles (EDA) and Title 10 Security Cooperation programmes, the ERTNews broadcaster reported.

The move was considered particularly important for Cyprus as it would boost bilateral cooperation between the two states, strengthen operational compatibility and security ties.

This would also modernise the republic’s defence, the broadcaster said.

Under the FMS programme, the U.S. could transfer defence articles, services and training to international partners; the EDA programme allowed foreign governments or international organisations to receive surplus U.S. defence equipment.

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The Title 10 programme gave an opportunity to take part in the activities aimed at developing new capabilities of foreign countries’ security forces.

Officials in Washington, in turn had reportedly supported the move, as this new expanded cooperation structure would help create a new security space in the region, in which Cyprus would play an important role.

In October 2024, Cyprus and the U.S. launched a Strategic Dialogue, and in September, the countries signed a roadmap on cooperation in defence in 2024 to 2029.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides had strongly supported the development of U.S.-Cyprus ties, as well as joining NATO.

In December, he said that Cyprus would join NATO “tomorrow’’ if it were possible.

(RIA/AN)

NASS clears JAMB of alleged misappropriation

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has exonerated the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), of alleged misappropriation of funds in its 2024 budget implementation.

Chairman of the committee, Sen . Sani Musa in a statement on Thursday, said the board was erroneously accused of reckless spendings, given the documents submitted to the committee by JAMB.

He said the committee had during the budget defence session with the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede , alleged that the examination body spent N1.1 billion on meals , N850 million for fumigation among others.

Sani said the JAMB Registrar had made efforts to explain how the alleged expenditure were made but was overruled by the committee, adding that the committee requested that JAMB presented it with details of its budgetary appropriation and spendings in 2024 and 2025.

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Sani in the statement said: “For the purpose of clarity, the comprehensive report provided by JAMB indicated that the line items mentioned during Monday’s hearing on revenue did not suggest any mismanagement or misuse of the board’s funds.

“On the contrary, the report highlighted the responsible and prudent use of resources under the leadership of the registrar.

“The registrar deserves commendation for demonstrating financial discipline and accountability in managing the board’s resources effectively.

“This level of stewardship serves as a model for public institutions across the nation.”

(NAN)

FG knocks Emir Sanusi over unconstructive remarks on laudable policies

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Newsaccessadmin

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says the Federal Government does not need the stamp of approval from Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II of its laudable policies that is making life better for Nigerians.

This is contained in a statement by the minister on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the minister, Sanusi, like any other Nigerian, has the inalienable right to express opinions either in form of commendation or criticism on how the government is being ran.

“However, we find it amusing that a leader, more so, one from an institution that ennobles forthrightness, fairness, and justice would publicly admit to shuffling off saying the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism.

“It is pertinent to state that Nigeria is at a pivotal juncture where bold and decisive actions are necessary to tackle entrenched economic challenges.

“This administration has implemented transformative reforms, not because they are easy but because they are essential for securing Nigeria’s long-term stability and growth, as he, Sanusi had consistently advocated.

“The temporary pains currently experienced from these inevitable decisions, as Sanusi himself acknowledged, are necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management, more than anything else.

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“These reforms are already delivering measurable progress. The unification of exchange rates has bolstered investor confidence, which has contributed to increased foreign reserves and strengthened Nigeria’s ability to shield itself from external economic shocks.

“The removal of the fuel subsidy has freed up significant resources, allowing for greater investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.”

The minister expressed disappointment, that reforms, widely recognised as essential by global experts including Sanusi himself, are now being subtly condemned because of shift in loyalty.

Idris stressed that Sanusi has a unique responsibility to contribute constructively rather than undermine reforms aimed at collective progress.

“We urge the Emir to rise above personal interests and partisan undertones and prioritise the greater good of Nigerians.

“Rebuilding Nigeria requires unity, focus, and sacrifice from all stakeholders. As a government, we urge esteemed leaders to refrain from rhetorics that undermine public trust.

“Instead, they owe it a duty to champion the collective goal of a prosperous Nigeria. This is a critical time for our country, what is needed is collaboration, not unnecessary distractions

“President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains resolute in its mission to lead Nigeria toward economic inclusivity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

“This administration is open to constructive dialogue with all well-meaning stakeholders, while remaining steadfast in putting the interests of Nigerians above all else,” Idris said.

(NAN)