CRAZE LAND ! NERC seeks academic researches to improve electricity

To really address the Nigeria’s intractable energy crisis, the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof James Momoh, has called on tertiary institutions in Nigeria to carry out researches and innovations to improve power supply in the country .

Momoh made the call on Saturday while delivering a Convocation Lecture titled “Reform of the Power Sector in Nigeria” at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja.

He said that the traditional way of operating the universities and colleges should be radically changed to support the sector through research and development.

“Capacity development, innovations and solution providing roles in partnership with other sister research centres is a sure way universities can make impacts on the power sector.

“Special courses and curriculum should be introduced to facilitate a unified knowledge approach towards finding sustainable solutions to existing and emerging demands of the power sector,” he said.

He listed areas of interest in the power sector where universities can leverage on to include; power policy research, design and installation training, smart metering, smart grid, techniques of data mining, among others.

Momoh said that proper policy, research, innovations, application of advanced technology, appropriate regulation and standard with optimised technology are all interconnected in determining the efficiency of the modern electric grid.

“The role of universities and research institutes in promoting efficient power generation, transmission, distribution, market and tariffs cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

Momoh stressed that the engagement of the tertiary institutions and research institutes in synergy with critical stakeholders is crucial to improving electricity supply in the country.

- PM NEWS

Transfer: Real Madrid offers Liverpool Asensio in swap deal for Mane

Real Madrid will offer Marco Asensio to Liverpool, as they attempt to sign Sadio Mane during the summer transfer window, the Daily Express reports.

Mane has developed into one of Jurgen Klopp’s key players, since arriving at Anfield from Southampton in 2016.

The Senegal forward has scored 59 goals in 123 appearances in all competitions, helping Liverpool win the Champions League and finish second in the Premier League last term.

Real are ready to step up their interest in the 27-year-old ahead of the new season and are willing to offer Asensio in a proposed swap deal with Mane.

Klopp is believed to be an admirer of Asensio, who featured 44 times for Los Blancos last season, but will be reluctant to lose Mane.

Mane was strongly linked with Real Madrid earlier in the season, but distanced himself from the rumours ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League final win over Tottenham in June.

He said: “This is part of football, so we have to deal with it.

“For me, the more important thing is that I am with Liverpool and I am very happy here, and I am preparing for one of the club’s biggest games. Let’s focus on this first, and on winning it.”

- DAILY POST

TERRORISTS !!! Fulani herdsmen attacks: Why we want to set up vigilantes across Nigeria – Miyetti Allah

The Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has provided reasons for its plan to establish vigilance groups in the Southeast and other regions of the country.

National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, told The Sun that the move was a sure way of bringing to an end the present spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry and other forms of insecurity across the country.

He also said MACBAN’s proposition was misinterpreted in Enugu last week because of lack of proper understanding of it.

Ngelzarma added that the organisation’s desire was not only to deploy vigilantes to the Southeast but to all states of the federation.

According to him, “The whole thing was misunderstood or some people deliberately failed to make people to understand us.

“What we meant is that Miyetti Allah will establish a vigilante group, and it was a mere suggestion to the governors of the zone because we feel that security should be everybody’s concern, and we have our members across each and every forest in the southern part of the country.

“So, in order to also help the government and the security agencies to do their work that is why we want to assist in anywhere we can to bring about peace in the Southeast, Southwest and South-South.

“We just proffered that one as a solution because it is only a Fulani man that can identify a Fulani criminal. When a Fulani man commits a crime, it is always easier for a fellow Fulani to go and fish him out and bring him to justice.

“Where there is farm destruction, in order to avoid a confrontation, which leads to loss of lives on either side, it is the Fulani that will help the security to go and bring the culprit to face justice.

“That was what we meant, when we said let some of our members work with either the security, neighbourhood watch or vigilante group as the case may be, so that they will be working together if there is any problem or any sort of crime, farm destruction as the case may be, then our members within the group of vigilantes will go and apprehend the culprit so that he faces justice and pay for the farm he has destroyed.

“It was a mere suggestion to the state governors. MACBAN is not going to appoint a vigilante. Who are we to go and appoint a vigilante in a state, as the state governors are the chief security officers of the states, the police and other security operatives are there. We can only assist or offer to assist when our offer is accepted.

“The last time we had a meeting with our members, we agreed to work closely with the government, work with the security and do all they could to try to fish out criminal elements within the fold of the herdsmen because Miyetti Allah is not a criminal organisation; it doesn’t represent any crime or criminal because those criminals are not our members, and we don’t see them to be our members because we don’t condone crime and we condemn crime wherever it takes place, and we sympathise with victims of crimes whether they are Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, etc. We don’t tolerate criminals in our fold.

“It was a mere suggestion to the governors, if they accept, we work together, but if they don’t, whatever approach they want to adopt, we are always ready to be part of the security initiative in every state to do our best in assisting government, security agencies to fish out criminals because we have had enough, where some few criminals are smearing the name of the entire Fulani people in the country.

“We don’t like it and that is why we offer ourselves to security agencies and to state governments, where they require our assistance, and we have instructed our members whether at local government level to work closely with traditional rulers, vigilante groups and the government in fishing out criminals, and working to ensure security in their community.

“This is all what we meant, but somehow, some people gave it a wrong interpretation. It was a mere suggestion, but with or without it, our doors are open; we are ready to assist security; we are ready to work with government, we are ready to work with community, work with neighbourhood watch or vigilante groups, whatever you have that is taking care of security in those areas. Our members are ready to work with security in fishing out criminals.”

- DAILY POST

FG begins verification of pensioners, next of kin; releases contacts

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has announced the recommencement of the Parastatal Pensioner Verification Exercise for pensioners and Next of Kin (NoK) under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

The management of PTAD made this announcement on its website, adding that the exercise concerned all Treasury-funded parastatals, agencies and institutes in five of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The geopolitical zones are: the South West, North East, South East, North West and North Central.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DBS was in existence before the introduction of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

The directorate also said that the exercise would start from July 15 to Oct. 30 at 8am to 4pm daily except on Sundays and in different allotted centres in each zone.

The exercise in the South West zone is scheduled to begin on July 15 to July 24 in allocated centres in Ibadan, Abeokuta and Osogbo.

Also, the verification dates for the North-East zone would start on Aug. 5 till Aug. 9 in assigned centres in Bauchi and Maiduguri.

For the South-East zone, the exercise would start on Aug. 26 till Sept. 4 in selected centres in Enugu, Awka and Owerri.

In the North-West zone, the exercise would begin on Sept. 23 till Oct. 2 in selected centres in Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto.

Lastly, the verification in the North Central zone would start on Oct. 21 till Oct. 30 in centres in Abuja, Ilorin and Minna.

The organisation added that the verification would also cover retirees of 270 agencies.

The agencies include federal universities, polytechnics, research institutes and other treasury-funded parastatals, agencies and institutes, colleges of education, teaching hospitals and medical centres.

Also included are: Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Nigeria Railway Corporation and Nigeria Postal Services.

The management also said that the exercise would cover retirees of the defunct or privatised agencies yet to be verified.

These include: Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Assurance Bank and Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).

The directorate added that all pensioners currently living outside the country will be verified whenever they visit provided they show proof of residency outside Nigeria.

It explained that such proof should be provided in advance via PTAD’s email: info@ptad.gov.ng.

Furthermore, it stated that mobile verification would be conducted for sick and pensioners with disabilities.

“The original documents of the pensioners must be brought to the verification venue together with proof of infirmity for authentication, before mobile verification can be scheduled,” it added.

The management also emphasised that the verification did not include pensioners from customs, immigration and prisons, civil service and police, as well as from parastatals, who had previously been verified by PTAD.

It noted that pensioners are not required to travel to the states they retired from to be verified, adding that they could be verified in any of the centres in the geo-political zones where they reside.

The organisation also advised retirees to be wary of fraudsters “as pension payment is free”.

“PTAD will NEVER request for cash to process your pension. Please call 08144607574 or email actu@ptad.gov.ng to report suspicious phone calls or messages.”

Pensioners were further advised to call PTAD’s Toll Free Lines on 0800-2255-7823, email info@ptad.gov.ng or complaints@ptad.gov.ng, or visit its website on www.ptad.gov.ng for more information.

- DAILY POST

George Weah’s son Timothy dumps PSG for Lille

US international forward Timothy Weah has left Paris Saint-Germain to join their Ligue 1 rivals Lille, the clubs said Saturday.

Weah, the 19-year-old son of former African footballer of the year and current Liberian President George Weah, has signed a five-year contract with the northern French club.

“It’s official ! LOSC, Paris Saint-Germain and Timothy Weah have agreed on the transfer of the 19-year-old striker to the Dogues. The American international has signed a 5-year contract with the club Lille, until 2024”, Lille announced on their website.

The deal is reportedly worth around 10 million euros ($11.4 million).

Having struggled to break into PSG’s star-studded first team, Weah spent last season on loan to Celtic, where he won the Scottish title

His sale to Lille is widely seen as part of Qatar-owned PSG’s attempts to conform with UEFA’s Financial Fairplay regulations designed to prevent clubs from overspending.

PSG have already sold 19-year-old Moussa Diaby to German club Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Lille finished runners-up to PSG last season.

New York-born Weah, who joined PSG from New York Red Bulls in 2014, has made eight appearances for the US national team, scoring once.

His father made 138 appearances for PSG from 1992 to 1995.

- PM NEWS

JUNGLE !! How I was raped by a pastor: Another Nigerian woman speaks

Another Nigerian woman has come out with her painful rape story: How she was raped as a virgin by a so-called ‘Pastor who claims to be a prophet’.

In a tweetstorm on Saturday, Vicki Royce, a singer and performer, who was born as Victoria Kehinde Bandele 25 years ago, narrated how she was raped by the so-called man of God at a guest house in Ikotun, Lagos in November 2012.

“I was raped as a virgin and the pain felt like hell.. by a pastor who claim to be a prophet,” she wrote.

Although Vicki did not mention the name of her sexual predator in the tweets.

Please read her story:

Ikotun, Lagos. Nov 17 2012. I was almost 19. The date, the time, the spot, the circumstances…I’ll NEVER forget.

I don’t want to talk much tbh(to be honest). But even if I shorten this story I’ll always remember the trauma. The deceit. The helplessness.

I went with this my friend and her boyfriend to meet this ‘man of God’.
Well because my choices were limited (in my opinion) back then. And I really needed a miracle to feel better about myself with an admission into uni. Amongst a few other issues.

They took me to meet him and he was all fatherly and dependable-looking. I felt at ease, for real. He asked for my parents’ names and I told him. Man of God, who doubts them for no reason?

In short I was told to come for a special prayer the next week. By myself. But that I should fast that day and break when I’m in the church

The day came,I was fasting. Then I went to the guest house he’d told me to meet him at. Still find it hard to believe I didn’t suspect ANY ulterior motive. My friends trusted him so it didn’t even occur to me to be worried AT ALL

He wasn’t there but the receptionist, a lady, told me to take the keys to “my room”. That was the first inkling that this was awkward but I wasn’t afraid. I hadn’t been told it was a room thing but I told myself to be grateful that he wanted to respect my privacy.

He came in like an hour after I got there. Welcomed me with smiles and asked if I’d remembered not to eat. I reassured him that I hadn’t. Then he asked if I was a virgin. Couldn’t lie to a man of God.I confessed that I’d never had sex.

Gave me ‘anointing oil’ and told me to rub it on my pubic area when he leaves the room. Also gave me a white garment to wear after changing.

He came back like 30 minutes after. Told me with a straight face “emi mo ni e”.
Meaning “I own you”.

Huh? Kile mean sir? That was my thought. What do you mean by that?

Next thing this man with the Bible told me to undress and lie down. Not kneel for prayers, lie down. I was shy of course but how would I disobey and still get my miracle, my healing?

He brought out his penis, holding a Bible with the other hand and chanting scriptures in Yoruba. Actually saying prayers for me..I could hear. But what’s penis doing with prayer? I was petrified. Yet didn’t want to miss ‘blessings’

Oh he’d said my grandma put something in me as a kid and it had to be removed for me to make a headway. Didn’t even know which of the grandmas. And he now repeated that this was the way ‘it’ could be removed.

Summary he had his way with me while i cried and screamed. Nobody came. Want to believe nobody heard. He kept whispering ” I own you, don’t be afraid. I own you”

He ejaculated and stood up. I was bloody, sticky. He opened the bedside drawer,gave me #200 for transportation. Told me I should give it a week and see the effect of his ‘prayer’. I was crying but told myself it was for a good reason. Never thought I’d give my virginity this way.

I’m a twin. I’m Kehinde. Taiwo is a guy. He and my parents don’t know this story. Our older sister didn’t, till the year. Told my pastor too. I’m much stronger now I think. I’ll not let some random man hurt me for life. I’m #unbroken.”

In her other tweets, she advocated for a brutal punishment for rapists and agonised over many women who have been victims, and who have chosen to keep quiet. She said she was inspired to recount her story by Busola Dakolo, who used a TV interview to tell how she was violated by Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly(COZA), now based in Abuja.

Vicki Royce, an upcoming singer has just released a single ‘Ariya’, under Kingmakers Entertainment label.

*This story has been revised in light of new information, as Vicki did not reveal the identity of her rapist. The reference to TB Joshua is regretted.

- PM NEWS

ECOWAS single currency to be called ECO

The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Saturday adopted ECO as the name of the single currency to be issued in January 2020.

The leaders at their 55th Ordinary Session in Abuja endorsed the name while congratulating the Ministerial Committee on the Single Currency for the considerable progress recorded in the implementation of the revised roadmap.

In the communiqué read by Mr Mustapha Suleiman, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Authority instructed the ECOWAS Commission to work in collaboration with West African Monetary Agency.

The leaders also instructed the commission to work with West African Monetary Institute and the central banks to accelerate the implementation of the revised roadmap with regard to the symbol of the single currency.

The Authority also directed the commission and the central banks to accelerate the operation of the Special Fund for financing of programmes in the revised Roadmap for the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme.

“It further directs the commission to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the meeting of the ministerial committee held in Abidjan on June 17 and June 18 as well as preparation and implementation of the Communication Strategy for the single currency programme.

“The Authority takes note of the 2018 macroeconomic convergence report. It noted the worsening of the macroeconomic convergence and urges member states to do more to improve on their performance in view of the imminent deadline.”

Furthermore, the ECOWAS Chairman President Issoufou Mahamadou said the revised roadmap still stipulated that the single currency would be issued in Jan. 2020.

“We have not changed that but we will continue with assessment between now and then.

“We are of the view that countries that are ready will launch the single currency and countries that are not yet ready will join the programme as they comply with all six convergence criteria”, he was quoted to have said by the News Agency of Nigeria.

- PM NEWS

China completes $17.5b world’s largest airport in Beijing

China’s capital Beijing is set to open an eye-catching multi-billion dollar airport resembling a massive shining starfish, to accommodate soaring air traffic and celebrate the Communist government’s 70th anniversary in power.

Touted as the world’s largest, work on the Beijing Daxing International Airport officially ended on schedule Sunday, ready for a September 30 inauguration — on the eve of the anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic on October 1, 1949 by Mao Zedong.

Celebrations of that event will see President Xi Jinping reviewing a huge military parade through the centre of Beijing, with the opening of the futuristic hub, a fitting embodiment of the “Chinese dream” he has offered his fellow citizens.

Located 46 kilometres south of Tiananmen square, the new airport will operate at full capacity in 2025, with four runways and the potential to receive 72 million passengers per year.

By 2040 the hub is expected to have expanded to eight runways including one for military use, and will be able to welcome 100 million passengers per year — which will make it the world’s largest single terminal in terms of traveller capacity, according to its designers.

Atlanta airport, in the United States, can currently receive more than a hundred million passengers, but across two terminals.

At 700,000 square metres — about the size of a hundred football pitches — the new structure will be one of the world’s largest airport terminals.

The building was designed by Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who died in 2016, in conjunction with the engineering subsidiary of Aeroports de Paris.

Inside, it stands out for its flowing, curved lines and use of light that filters down to the lowest levels of the building through openings in the roof.

Underneath the terminal is a train station and metro line that will allow travellers to reach the city centre in 20 or so minutes.

The project cost 120 billion yuan ($17.5 billion), or 400 billion if rail and road links are included.

The current Beijing Daxing International Airport — the world’s second largest — is already overflowing, with just over 100 million passengers annually.

Air transport is booming in China as living standards increase along with peoples’ desire to travel. Indeed, it will pass the US to become the world’s biggest aviation market by the mid-2020s, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The country will see 1.6 billion plane journeys each year from 2037 — a billion more than in 2017, the organisation estimates.

China’s capital — with its 21 million people — expects to welcome 170 million passengers in 2025, split between the two airports.

State television channel CCTV reported that the SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta Air France and KLM, will move over to the new airport along, along with its partner Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

The third largest Chinese airline, Air China, is expected to keep flying the bulk of its flights from Beijing Capital International Airport.

- PM NEWS

Ekiti boils as Fulani herdsmen kill hunter

There was a massive demonstration in Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday when residents of the community trooped out to protest the killing of a hunter by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The hunter, Emmanuel Ilori was said to have been killed at the midnight while hunting for animals with some of his colleagues.

This gory incident occurred barely 48hrs after a female undergraduate identified as Maria was killed in her father’s farm in Ise-Ekiti by unknown gunmen.

Mr. Adeniyi Ajayi, a hunter escaped during the incident alleged that Ilori was killed by Fulani herdsmen.

Ajayi told The Nation: “We met the herdsmen numbering about thirty in the abandoned piggery farm in the town.

“And we attempted to inquire about what they were doing on the farm. Suddenly, they brought out rifles shooting at our direction. Thus, resulting in the death of Mr. Ilori”.

The lucky hunter claimed that the herdsmen were kidnappers using the forest as a hideout to perpetrate heinous acts.

It was gathered that the corpse of the hunter has been taken away by security officers for further investigation.

The residents of the community dropped out in large numbers to stage a protest over the incident.

They barricaded the major roads and made bonfire to express their displeasure over the killing.

Addressing journalists during the protest, High chief Francis Falua and Chairman of Rice Farmers in Ekiti State, Mr kolawole Rotimi berated the uncontrollable attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in the community.

They disclosed that a few months back the ‘evil genius’ herdsmen allegedly killed a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

They, however, appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to take proactive steps to curtail the lingering herdsmen menace in the State before it gets out of hand.

When contacted, the Ekiti Police Command Spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident, saying they have emplaced watertight security architecture to comb the forest and arrest the perpetrators.

- PM NEWS

Trump calls Jimmy Carter ‘forgotten president’

U.S. President Donald Trump railed back Saturday against former President Jimmy Carter’s comments questioning the legitimacy of the 2016 election, saying: “He’s like the forgotten president.”

Trump said this of Carter, 94, who a day earlier suggested that Trump only got the White House with help from Russia.

“Russia. Russia. Russia. Isn’t it crazy?” Trump said, speaking at a news conference at the close of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. “I was surprised that he would make a statement.”

Trump called it a “typical talking point” among Democrats and said he won the election because he worked harder than his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in key battleground states that typically vote for Democrats.

Trump called Carter a “nice man” but said he was a terrible president who has been “trashed within his own party.”

Carter, who was president from 1977 to 1981, said Friday that a full investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 Election would show that Trump didn’t win the presidency.

“He lost the election and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf,” Carter said, speaking in Leesburg, Virginia.

Asked if he believes Trump is an illegitimate president, Carter paused and said, “Based on what I just said, which I can’t retract.”

In Trump’s response to Carter’s statement, he referred to the Iranian seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and ensuing hostage crisis that lasted until the end of Carter’s term in office.

“That was a disaster. What Iran did to him – they tied him up in knots,” Trump said.

- PM NEWS