March 13, 2024
The Federal Government has postponed the launch of the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme indefinitely.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this known during a television interview monitored by Inspiration FM.
President Bola Tinubu, shortly after inauguration had signed a bill to start a Students Loan Fund that would give interest-free loans to Nigerians for higher education.
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, proposed the bill and it was supposed to start between September and October 2023.
Meanwhile, Tinubu said the programme would begin in January 2024, after missing the October deadline.
In January, Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, said at a meeting that preparations for the program were finished. This included making the Student Loan Scheme website and planning how to start the programme.
Also, Tinubu told leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students that the programme would start once they added more features, like vocational studies.
However, barely 48 hours before the launch, Sawyer said the loan scheme was postponed due to some corrections that were being made around the launch.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to commit to a specific date. We are sort of waiting to ensure that all the stakeholders are aligned to make sure that nobody is blindsided, then we can actually roll this out in a meaningful, comprehensive, wholesome and sustainable way,” he said.
March 11, 2024
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet`s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecast a sunny and hazy atmosphere on Monday over the northern region throughout the forecast period.
According to it, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North Central States, with prospects of localised thunderstorms over parts of Benue State during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Benue and Kogi.
“Increased cloudy conditions are anticipated in the morning hours over the inland states of South and coastal cities, with chances of morning thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, and Delta states.
“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states,“ it said.
According to NiMet, sunny and hazy atmosphere is expected over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Tuesday, with chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of Taraba and Kaduna states during the evening hours.
It envisaged patches of clouds over the North Central region with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.
The agency envisaged localised thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Kogi states later in the day.
It anticipated cloudy skies over the inland areas of the South and the coastal cities, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Lagos State during the morning periods.
NiMet predicted localised thunderstorms over parts of Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and Delta states in the afternoon and evening hours.
According to NiMet, sunny and hazy atmosphere is expected over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.
“Increased cloudy conditions with chances of early morning thunderstorms is expected over parts of Plateau, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, localized thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Kwara, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.
“Cloudy skies are expected over inland cities of South and Coast, with prospects of localised thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states in the morning hours,“ it said.
NiMet anticipated localized thunderstorms over parts of Abia, Ogun, Edo, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Lagos states in the afternoon and evening hours.
The agency urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.
“Temperature values are still high, especially in the North; please stay hydrated. Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,“ it said.
March 11, 2024
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will return to footballing action at the next FIFA window with 2 friendly games against African rivals; Ghana and Mali in Morocco.
According to a press release by the Nigeria Football Federation, Nigeria will face Ghana on the 22nd of March 2024, at the Grande Stade de Marrakech and then take on the Eagles of Mali on the 26th at the same venue.
Although a coach is yet to be named for the team, the NFF released a 26-man team to prosecute the two games with Ghana and Mali.
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders:
Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
Forwards:
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
March 11, 2024
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, has announced that one of its critical infrastructures, the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV transmission line, has been vandalized by unknown hoodlums, making it the fifth of such incidents between February and March, 2024, leaving the country in total darkness.
On February 28, it was reported that vandals destroyed Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade-Katampe Transmission line in Abuja, making it the third transmission tower to be vandalised by vandals within five days, of that time.
The continued destruction of TCN towers is raising concern among stakeholders, as some persons have called on the Federal Government to deploy security agents to the transmission company to investigate the incessant situation.
On Sunday, TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, while announcing the latest vandalism at the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV transmission line, said, “At approximately 9 am this morning, the Shiroro-Katampe transmission line experienced a trip.
“Following initial investigations, TCN engineers attempted to restore operation but were unsuccessful. Subsequently, efforts were made to identify the fault location. Hence, linesmen were dispatched to physically patrol the suspected area.
“During the fault tracing process, vigilante team leaders in the vicinity notified TCN linesmen of vandalism along the Shiroro-Katampe transmission line. TCN personnel confirmed the vandalisation of the 330kV Shiroro-Katampe transmission line 1, from Towers 244 to 245, and the conductors are stolen.”
Mbah said TCN was “currently mobilising for conductor replacement, pending completion of security operations at the site. Nevertheless, the second line remains fully operational, transmitting at full capacity to Abuja, in conjunction with the Gwagwalada 330kV line serving the Kukwaba-Apo axis.”
