News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja    Staff of the Federal Ministry of Works at the launch of Performance Management       System in Abuja on Thursday.  Determined to enhance service delivery in the civil service, the Federal Government has commenced weekly performance appraisal for workers in the Ministry of Works.  This followed the directive of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, mandating all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to consistently track the performance of civil servants. Titled: "Performance Management System (PMS)", the appraisal, which is expected to be carried out every Thursday, is the second pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021- 2025 (FCSSIP25).  It was designed to review, assess and improve employees’ performance across all on-going tasks, as well as projects within the ministry. At the launch of PMS day on Thursday in ...

President Bola Tinubu President Bola Tinubu has approved the renovation of a building for the successful take-off of the Ministry of Livestock Development.  The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike stated this on Wednesday during an inspection of the building located at the Central Business District in Abuja. He said: "President Tinubu has directed the rehabilitation of the former building of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to serve as the newly proposed building for the Ministry of Livestock Development." Wike, who failed to disclose the cost of the renovation, said that no contract has been awarded for the project yet.

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                Late Sani Black  A notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Sani Black that has been terrorising Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi State, as well as neighbouring countries is dead.  Black, a feared warlord responsible for countless terror attacks, was ambushed and killed by local vigilantes, supported by the military in Magama Mai Rake area of Maru Local Government Area in the state.  Security Analyst, Zagazola Makama confirmed his death via his X handle on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, noting that two of Black's sons were killed during the operation.  Makama, who also doubles as Counter Insurgency Expert for Lake Chad in West Africa, said that the vigilantes recovered two AK-47 rifles, a PKT machine gun, and an undisclosed amount of cash from the scene. Narrating the downfall of the bandit leader, he said: "On the morning of September 24, 2024, following information about the clash bet...

BY CHIKA OKEKE          Senator Monday Okpebholo  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner of Saturday, September 21, 2024, Edo off-cycle gubernatorial election.  Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes to beat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 247, 274 votes. The flag bearer of Labour Party (LP) Barr Olumide Akpata finished third with a total of 22,763.  Fourteen other candidates contested the seat but secured few votes compared to the three major contenders.  INEC's Returning Officer for Edo election, Prof Faruk Kuta announced that Okpebholo garnered the highest number of votes at the collation centre in Benin City, the state capital on Sunday. "That Okpebholo Monday of APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected," he sa...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  R-L: Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba; Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Director of Practice, Standards and Compliance, EHCON, Mrs Bolanle Ibrahim, flanked by others during the deployment of Environmental Health Officers and treatment materials to tackle the aftermath of flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State in Abuja recently. Committed to the safety of Nigerians, the Federal Government has issued environmental and health advisory for community, household and personal levels that would assist in mitigating the impact of flooding.  This followed the devastating flooding on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, when several inmates escaped and corpses washed away from the cemetery due to fast-moving waters that swept more than 70 percent of Maiduguri metropolis, the Borno State capital.  News Rider reports that in line with Presidential directives, the ministry has mobilised techn...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The latest report compiled by Climate Central indicated that one in four people, approximately 25 percent of the global population or over two billion persons worldwide faced extreme heat daily between June, July, and August 2024. News Rider reports that the climate change-driven temperatures were linked to burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, and human activities.  Climate Central is a non-advocacy, non-profit science and news organisation, providing authoritative information to help the public and policymakers make sound decisions about climate and energy. The report reads: "Between June and August, two billion people were exposed to more than 30 days of health-threatening temperatures strongly influenced by climate change.  "More than four billion people faced unusual temperatures at least three times more likely caused by climate change on August 13, the peak of the global heat. "During this record-breaking season, whe...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja R-L: Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun presenting a copy of Ogun State Investment Opportunity book to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery in Abeokuta recently.  United Kingdom has pledged to invest $5 million towards the establishment of battery recycling and treatment facility in Nigeria. The $5m investment, to be provided through UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme is expected to create a lithium-ion battery and lead acid battery recycling and treatment plant in Ogun State using patented recycling technology. These were part of the highlights when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery embarked on a four-day official visit to Lagos and Ogun states. During the visit, he engaged in conversations that focused on enhancing economic ties, driving investments, prosperity opportunities and future priorities that could be beneficial to the states and the UK. He underscored the United Kingdom’s com...