BAMY BLOG

A 150 MVA transformer and cables were, on Wednesday, gutted by fire at the Ayede sub-station of the Transmission Company of the Nigeria (TCN) in Ibadan. Eye witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at about 6:15 am., with distress calls made to fire fighters at around 7:20 am. NAN reports that fire fighters from the Oyo State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and some corporate organisations in the state such as CBN, Zartech and Sweetco, all responded to the distress calls. Oyo state chapter of the Nigeria Red Cross as well as the personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also on ground to provide support. Speaking with NAN, Mr Ojo Olaleye, Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, said although no life was lost, three persons, however, sustained minor injuries. Olaleye said one of those who sustained injuries had abrasions on his body from leaning on a hot wall, adding that another suff

Dr Lazarus Maigoro, chairman of the University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has told the Buhari government why lecturers cannot enroll into the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Maigoro said IPPIS violates the university Act 2003. He said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Jos that the policy did not fit into the university system. He noted that the law establishing all federal universities had bestowed on governing councils of the institutions the powers to administer over its administrative, financial and personnel matters. Maigoro threatened that members of the union would down tolls and proceed on a nationwide strike if government insisted on implementing the IPPIS policy. “Why we can’t accept IPPIS is because of the retrogressive nature of the payment platform to the peculiar nature of the university system. "Actually, IPPIS violates the university Act of 2003, where th

Former Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and his political ‘son’, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade have expressed shock over the demise of Hon. Yinka Mafe. The duo of Amosun and Akinlade described the sudden death of the former lawmaker as a great loss to Remo and the All Progressives Congress family in Ogun State. Hon. Mafe, a former Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, died yesterday while celebrating his 46th birthday. Akinlade, who is yet to come to terms with the passing of Mafe, said, “until his demise, he was a loyal, trusted, dependable and dogged ally of Hon. Adekunle Akinlade and Senator Ibikunle Amosun political family in Ogun.” In a statement released by his Spokesperson, Akinlade said, “Words failed me in expressing the shock I felt when the news broke that Asiwaju Yinka Mafe was dead. He was our friend, our brother and a very loyal ally in our political sojourn”. “K’átó r’érin ó digbó, k’átó r’ẹ́fọ̀n ó dọ̀dàn. This is really an irrep

The meeting between the labour unions and Kwara government on minimum wage ended in deadlock today. The government made fact-based presentations to the labour unions on what it can afford without going to borrow to pay salary. However, the governor in a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the Labour unions rejected its proposal. The Governor added that the proposal from labour is ‘very scary and hardly sustainable in Kwara state.’ The statement read in part: “The proposal given to Labour unions includes that no worker will earn below the 30,000 minimum wage enacted by the Minimum Wage Act. We also made suggestions on the consequential adjustments as they affect the other cadres. “Our initial proposal to the labour, which they have rejected, means that Kwara will now spend 85% of its allocation on public sector workers alone, up from the current 75%, while well over 3.450million Kwarans, will struggle with the remaining 15% percent.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 147 sacks of pangolin scales weighing 9,504.1kg worth N10.26 billion. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, at a media briefing in Lagos today said the Zone A unit made the seizure. Pangolin scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with ailments ranging from lactation difficulties to arthritis. The scales are typically dried and ground up into powder, which may be turned into a pill. Ali noted that Nigeria, as a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), categorises the species under absolute prohibition. “It is my pleasure to brief you again on the recent gains of Nigeria Customs Service anti-smuggling operations,” NAN quoted him as saying. On Jan. 19, the roving team of the NCS, Federal Operations Unit, while on credible intelligence, uncovered an abandoned warehouse at Isheri Estate, Lagos, where 2x20ft containers were stacked. “The containers were immediately evac

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has revealed the cause of the crisis between him and Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Obaseki disclosed that the crisis was due to his refusal to hand over the “key to the treasury” of the state to Oshiomhole and his “cronies.” In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, the governor explained that while he believed in using the state resources to serve the people, Oshiomhole and his cronies believe it should be used to “carry them along.” He said: “As a matter of fact, the political crisis in Edo State which has forced the likes of Iriase to address the press, is underlaid by the stellar performance of the governor which is made possible by the fact that he has refused to hand over the key to the treasury of Edo State to Comrade Oshiomhole, Iriase and their cronies. “Make no mistake, the crisis in Edo State has nothing to do with performance because

Manchester United have confirmed that new striker, Odion Ighalo will wear the number 25 jersey number at the club. The Red Devils disclosed this in a statement on their official website on Tuesday. Ighalo joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men on transfer deadline day on six months loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. Ighalo has been handed the number 25 squad number at Man United. “ He joined the club on a six-month loan deal from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. “That shirt has been vacant since Antonio Valencia left Old Trafford last summer, bringing an end to his 10-season career as a Manchester United player. The 30-year-old striker’s move was completed on Friday on six a month deal. “The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer will bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad for the rest of the season.”

President Muhammadu Buhari earlier today launched Nigeria’s new visa policy. The policy allows citizens of other countries to visit Nigeria without visas. On arrival, the visitor would commence the process of securing visa for the duration of their stay. In attendance at the launch were the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, former Borno governor, Kashim Shettima, among others. Aregbesola told reporters at the presidential villa that the new visa policy has expanded Nigeria’s visa from 6 categories to 79. He explained that the visa on arrival could only be obtained in four international airports. They are Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport. Enugu International Airport, which is undergoing renovation, would be the fifth. Nigeria Immgration had exp

The Senate, on Tuesday, okayed the sum of N238,149,325,832.70 for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for 2020 fiscal budget. This approval was sequel to an adoption of the presentation by the committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and subsequent consideration at plenary. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has warned MDAs to submit their audited accounts or risk punitive measures. Senator Francis Alimikhena, who is chairman of the committee, said out of the total expenditure for the year 2020, N98.61 billion representing 41.41 percent is for Personnel cost; N15.95 billion representing 6.70 percent is for Overhead Cost; and N123.59 billion representing 51.89 percent is for Capital Cost. Alimikhena also said the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has a revenue framework of N1.5 trillion to be remitted to the Federation account; and N178.7 billion to Non-Federation account for the 2020 fiscal year. He further disclosed that the NCS in 2020 will undertake the recruitment of three thousand

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has revealed why his side was unable to beat Burnley in the Premier League at Turf Moor on Sunday. Arteta said the Gunners were ‘sloppy’ during the encounter against Sean Dyche’s side as the played 0-0 against the host. Speaking after the game, Arteta was quoted by Football London as saying at his post-match: “I hope it doesn’t take much time. But we need more consistency with the ball. “Arsenal were so sloppy, and we have to improve.” We started well and could have scored two. We played in Burnley’s half and controlled long balls. “After 20 minutes, we conceded unnecessary set pieces. “I was very disappointed with how we started the second half.” “I didn’t water the pitch in training yesterday.” Arsenal will clash with Newcastle United on February 16.

Juventus superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday, said he was proud after reaching 50 goals as a Bianconeri player following his side’s 3-0 victory against Fiorentina in the Serie A. He also expressed happiness after scoring two goals against Fiorentina. The Portugal captain netted two against Fiorentina to take his tally to 50 goals for the club since joining the Serie A champion from Real Madrid in 2018. Ronaldo’s brace and Matthijs de Ligt’s strike gave Maurizio Sarri’s men all three points against the visitors at the Allianz Stadium. The win over Fiorentina means Juventus are now on top of the Serie A table with 54 points from 22 matches. Speaking after the match, Ronaldo wrote on Twitter: “Good to get back to victories and happy to score again in our stadium two goals. "Proud to reach 50 goals with the Bianconeri shirt!” Ronaldo will hope to lead Juve to victory when they take on Verona in their next away Serie A fixture on February 8.     

Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho, has said it will be “difficult” for the team to finish in the top four, despite beating Manchester City 2-0 on Sunday. The win put them four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. But Mourino claims their involvement in three competitions – Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – could yet count against them. "It is going to be difficult. We are in three competitions. But it was a good weekend for us,” he told reporters after the game. Mourinho also spoke about Oleksander Zinchenko’s red card that changed the complexion of the game. “I am so pleased for the boys. We were a bit lucky in a couple of situations, but the other perspective very, very unlucky the VAR did not decide for a Raheem Sterling red card. "It was a clear red card and a completely different game if we played for 75 minutes against 10 men. “I see other situations where the decision is red. The red card of Son Heung-min against Chelsea,” he added.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Saturday visited President of the Living Faith World Outreach Centre, Bishop David Oyedepo. Adeboye met his long time ally in Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, headquarters of the Winners Chapel. The visit came 24 hours after the United States Embassy in Nigeria allegedly denied Oyedepo visa. Adeboye shared a photo of him and Oyedepo with the following caption: “We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. “For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal bo

NairaBet founder and lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Akin Alabi, has announced that he will sponsor a bill to make military camouflage legal for civilian use.  lawmaker made the announcement on his Twitter page. He stated that he would be putting a law together to repeal section 110 of the criminal code. “Section 110(1), Criminal Code states that it is illegal for a nonmilitary person to wear the uniform of the armed forces, or any part of the uniform of such forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of such uniforms,” he said. Alabi in his thread, described the existing law as archaic. He argued further that military personnel loves to use the law to abuse civilians. The tweets read, “So the law is clear. Do not wear camouflage. But does the law make sense? I’m sure some people will argue it does. Many will say it doesn’t. I’m one of those that say it doesn’t and I thought it

Dortmund striker, Erling Braut Haaland, on Saturday, set a new record after scoring a brace in his side’s Bundesliga 5-0 victory over Union Berlin. Dortmund defeated Berlin at home, thanks to goals from Haaland (2), Jadon Sancho (1), Marco Reus (1), and Axel Witsel (1). Haaland’s two goals against the visitors mean the Norwegian youngster has now become the first Bundesliga player to score score goals in his first three games, according to Live Soccer TV. The 19-year-old has scored with each of his first seven shots on target for Dortmund. Haaland joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg last month. He has signed a contract with the Bundesliga giants until the summer of 2024. Haaland will now hope to lead Dortmund to victory when they take on Bayer in their next fixture on February 8.

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has revealed why the club signed 30-year-old former Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo. Manchester United brought in Ighalo from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua on transfer deadline day. Solskjaer said the Nigerian 2018 World Cup striker would help solve the goalscoring issues of the club. Anthony Martial and teenage striker, Mason Greenwood have been used as United point men following the injury suffered by Marcus Rashford. “It was very important. I thought, with Marcus out for so long, the demands on Anthony and Mason would be high,” Solskjaer told MUTV. “We get an experienced goalscorer, top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations last season. He’s a man with a big smile, a great personality and a big Manchester United fan. He’s going to savour this, enjoy this and give absolutely everything for us.” Ighalo will spend six month at Old Trafford following the loan move.