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  • Airstrike kills 13 in Israeli attack on northern Gaza

    Airstrike kills 13 in Israeli attack on northern Gaza

    Attack

    Tel Aviv, June 25, 2024 (dpa/NAN) An Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 13 people, Palestinian media in the territory reported on Tuesday.

    The Israeli army said two buildings in which militants were hiding had been hit on Monday night in the al-Shati and Daraj Tuffah refugee neighbourhoods.

    Among those targeted were individuals who had been involved in the October 7 massacres and hostage-takings, the army said.

    The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said militants were operating “inside school compounds which was used by Hamas as a shield for its terrorist activities.”

    Palestinian media in Gaza said that at least 13 people were killed in the attack in al-Shati.

    According to unconfirmed reports, one of them was a sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

    The IDF made no mention of Haniyeh’s sister in its statement on social media.

    The IDF said air surveillance measures, precision-guided munitions and intelligence resources were used to minimize harm to civilians.

    The Gaza war was triggered by the massacre of more than 1,200 people by Hamas and allied militant groups in Israel on October 7.

    According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, at least 37,626 people had been killed and more than 86,000 injured in Gaza since the start of the war.

    The figures did not distinguish between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    COO/HS
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Halima Sheji

     

  • Nigeria’s public debt stock increases to N121.67trn in Q1 2024 – NBS

    Nigeria’s public debt stock increases to N121.67trn in Q1 2024 – NBS

    Debt

    By Okeoghene Akubuike

    Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria’s public debt stock increased from N97.34 trillion (108.23 billion dollars) in the fourth quarter of 2023 to N121.67 trillion (91.46 billion dollars ) in the first quarter of 2024.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said this on Tuesday in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt Report for Q1 2024 released in Abuja.

    The report said Nigeria’s public debt stock, which included external and domestic debts, grew by 24.99 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

    It said that External debt stood at N56.02 trillion (42.12 billion dollars) in Q1 2024, while domestic debt was N65.65 trillion (49.35 billion dollars).

    “However, the share of external debt to total public debt stood at 46.05 per cent in Q1 2024, while domestic debt was recorded at 53.95 per cent.’’

    In a breakdown by states, the bureau said that Lagos State recorded the highest domestic debt of N929.41 billion in Q1 2024, followed by Delta with N334.90 billion.

    The report showed Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt at N2.07 billion, followed by Ondo at N16.40 billion.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OKE/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

     

     

     

  • Woman jailed 3 years for stealing wristwatch, N47,000 cash

    Woman jailed 3 years for stealing wristwatch, N47,000 cash
    Sentence
    By Ige Adekunle
    Sango-Ota(Ogun), June 25,2024(NAN) A Magistrates’ Court in Oga, Ogun on Tuesday sentenced a 30-year-old woman,Motuntayo Obabiyi,to three years imprisonment for stealing N47,000 cash and  a wrist watch worth N16,000.
    Magistrate O.A.Onagoruwa, in his ruling, gave the woman  an option of N50,000 fine.
    Onagoruwa held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt that Obabiyi was guilty of the charge preferred against her.
    The convict,whose address was not provided,had earlier pleaded not guilty to theft, ,assault and conspiracy.
    Earlier,the Prosecutor,Insp E.O.Adaraloye,told the court that the convict and others, at  large, committed the offences on July 22,2022, at about 3.00 a.m.at Plaza Phase 1,Ota.
    Adaraloye said that the Obabiyi and her accomplices, stole N47,000 cash and a wristwatch from the complainant, Victor Nnamezie.
    He said that the convict and her accomplice also assaulted the complainant.
     The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 338,351 and 516 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Ogun,2006.(NAN)
    IGE/SH
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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • Drug abuse hospitalisations dropped again in Germany in 2022

    Drug abuse hospitalisations dropped again in Germany in 2022

    Drug

    Frankfurt, June 25, 2024 (dpa/NAN) The number of people that were hospitalised in Germany due to illegal drug use dropped once again in 2022, according to new government figures released on Tuesday.

    The Figures had been declining in Germany since peaking in 2016.

    Germany’s Federal Statistical Office said that around 17,200 cases were counted in the country in 2022 for treatment over use of heroin, cocaine, LSD or other illegal drugs.

    That’s a drop of 17 per cent compared to 2016, when there were almost 20,800 hospitalisations.

    Although the numbers has been falling steadily since then, the number of hospitalisations remains much higher than several decades ago.

    In 2002, just 9,500 people were treated in hospital for drug abuse, 81per cent lower than in 2022.

    Two thirds of patients (66 per cent) in 2022 were male, around a third (34 per cent) were female.

    According to the data, more than half of those treated (55 per cent) were between 18 and 39 years old, while 8 per cent were not yet adults.

    Hospital treatments as a result of cannabis, tobacco or alcohol consumption were not included in the statistics.

    Tobacco and alcohol have long been legal in Germany, while cannabis was made legal in the country earlier this year. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/HS
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey /Halima Sheji

     

  • Electricity consumers increase to 12.33m in Q1 2024 – NBS

    Electricity Consumers

    By Okeoghene Akubuike

    Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The number of electricity consumers rose by 210,000 from 12.12 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 12.33 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated in its Electricity Report for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024 released on Tuesday in Abuja that the increase was by 1.78 per cent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the review focuses on energy billed, revenue generated, and customers by DISCOS under the reviewed period.

    It stated that on a year-on-year basis, the number of electricity customers increased by 9.47 per cent in Q1 2024 from 11.27 million reported in Q1 2023.

    It said in Q1 2024, the number of metered customers stood at 5.91 million compared with the 5.61 million recorded in Q4 2023, this indicated a 5.38 per cent increase.

    “On a year-on-year basis, the figure grew by 11.26 per cent from the 5.31 million reported in Q1 2023.’’

    Similarly, estimated electricity customers stood at 6.43 million in Q1 2024, showing an increase of 10.22 per cent over the 5.83 million recorded in Q4 2023.

    “On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers increased by 7.88 per cent in Q1 2024 from the 5.96 million recorded in Q1 2023,” it stated.

    The NBS also said that electricity distribution companies collected N291.62 billion in revenue in Q1 2024 compared with the N294.95 billion they collected in Q4 2023 .

    It added that on a year-on-year basis, revenue collected rose by 17.91per cent over the N247.33 billion collected in  Q1 2023.

    It stated that electricity supply was 5,769 (Gwh) in the first quarter of 2024 from 6,432 (Gwh) recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    However, the report said on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply decreased by 1.41 per cent in Q1 2024 compared with the 5,851 (Gwh) reported in Q1 2023. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

     

    OKE/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke OKoronkwo

  • Police recruitment: Okiro urges PSC, Police to work in harmony  

    Police recruitment: Okiro urges PSC, Police to work in harmony

    Recruitment
    by Joseph Edeh

    Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Former Inspector-General of Police (I-G) Mike Okiro has called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force to work in harmony for national security.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Police had alleged irregularities and corruption in the recruitment of Constables by the PSC during the 2022/23 batch into the Nigeria Police Force.

    But Okiro in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the fight against insecurity would remain a mirage, unless the commission and the police worked in harmony to policing Nigeria with vigour.

    According to him, what Nigerians desire now is how the country will exit the ravaging insecurity pervading the land.

    “I implore both parties to eschew whatever be their perceived bitterness and embrace the fact that their jobs go hand in hand.

    “Their focus should be how to meet the overwhelming yearnings of the Nigerian people that can only happen when mutual respect exists between both parties.

    “I am very concerned that a minute issue that can be resolved through robust dialogue was allowed to fester to the level of washing dirty linens in public,“he said.

    He said that the lingering problem had done collateral damage to their public image, and ridiculed the international standing of Nigeria.

    Okiro said that the powers of recruitment, discipline and promotion of police personnel other than the I-G, was vested in the PSC.

    “It is not right for any police personnel to contemplate engaging in any misconduct in the course of performing assumed official duties,“he said.

    The former chairman of the PSC urged the commission to avoid over-flogging certain issues in the public domain.

    “To move forward, it is imperative to work quickly and assiduously to address the real challenges facing Nigerians; else, the goodwill enjoyed by both parties will soon dissipate.

    “This will further erode the fabric of confidence of Nigerians in our democratic process, which will spell doom for our economy too,“he said.

    He urged the leadership of the commission and police to meet and resolve their differences, and give peace and national security a chance.

    Okiro appealed to both parties to put the matter behind and rekindle the much needed cordial relationship for the successful candidates to start training on time.(NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

    JPE/KOO/SH

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    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Sadiya Hamza

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • DAPPMAN denies importing dirty fuel

     

    Fuel

    By Yunus Yusuf

    Lagos, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) said that none of its members and private fuel depots had imported fuel outside regulatory specifications.

     

    DAPPMAN said this in a statement on Monday night in Lagos, following the allegations that some marketers were importing dirty fuel.

     

    The association said that no depot imports fuel outside the specifications approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

     

    It said, ” NMDPRA had initially objected to offtakes by ‘our daughter vessels’ from import ‘mother vessels’, via Ship-to-ship operations which usually take place offshore Lome.”

     

    The association said that the move  was vehemently protested and resisted by downstream operators and had since been rescinded.

     

    DAPPMAN said that between February and May 2024, NMDPRA had allowed AGO imports with maximum sulphur content of 200/ppm.

     

    “However this was followed by another move, by the regulator, to fast forward the country target date of the implementation of the 50/ppm sulphur limitation on PMS and AGO imports, to June 1 from Dec. 31, 2024.

     

    “DAPPMAN will continue to work with all stakeholders, willingly to provide safe, healthy fuels to all Nigerians competitively giving them great and affordable fueling options for their daily activities,” it added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    YO/ACA/AWA

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    Edited by Chidinma Agu/Olawunmi Ashafa

     

     

     

  • Foundation urges wealthy Nigerians to give back to society

    Society

    By Sylvester Thompson

    Abuja, June 25, 2024(NAN) The Hajiya Hadiza Umar Foundation has called on wealthy Nigerians to contribute to nation building by giving back to society.

    Amb. Hajiya Hadiza, Founder of the foundation, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, said such gesture would bring succour to the poor and less privileged.

    The philanthropist urged privileged and well positioned Nigerians not to sit on the fence and watch poor people grapple with their livelihood.

    She said that nation building also involved touching and impacting positively on the livelihood of the less-privileged in communities and neighbourhoods.

    Umar said that giving back to society should be a prerogative of well meaning Nigerians who had made it to the apex of their careers and businesses.

    “There is no better period to demonstrate and act out the role of nation building than now; when the government is trying to re-position our country for the future.

    “People are really feeling the pressure presently and the task of nation building should not be left for the Federal Government alone.

    “Nation building is a collective responsibility and wealthy Nigerians who have amassed wealth should also take the lead,” she said.

    On how the government can drive the process of nation building effectively, she said that government should supervise and monitor the process by giving responsibility to credible people who could be trusted to deliver on the job.

    Umar said that some insincere and greedy individuals existed to channel the commonwealth into their private pockets, adding that government should be critical when giving responsibilities.

    She said that the dividends of democracy would not get to the poor unless there was sanity enshrined in the process.

    Umar said she drew inspiration from the challenges she faced in her early life, urging Nigerians to bear with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as there was light at the end of the tunnel. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    SET/OJI/CJ/

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    Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

     

  • Kano govt. spends N1bn on healthcare infrastructure

    Kano govt. spends N1bn on healthcare infrastructure

    Health

    By Aminu Garko

    Kano, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has committed over N1 billion to revolutionise healthcare service delivery in the state.

    According to a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, in Kano on Tuesday, the approval was given during the 15th State Executive Council (SEC).

    He said that the investment aims to enhance infrastructure, services, and training, prioritising maternal, neonatal, child health, and emergency care.

    He explained that about N165 million was allocated for essential medications and newborn packs, free maternal, neonatal, child health, and emergency supplies from 2024.

    He said that about N 57 million was spent on the completion and upgrade of vital health facilities, at College of Nursing and Midwifery in Madobi .

    Similarly, N 61.8 million was spent on Community Hospital at Kadawa and Specialised sickle cell unit at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital.

    Also carried out was the renovation of Infectious Diseases Hospital for the new Kano State Centre for Disease Control at the cost of N64.8 million.

    It also includes the upgrades at School of Health Technology, Kano at the cost of N35 million and College of Nursing and Midwifery in Dambatta where N28.5 million was spent.

    He said that about N 770 million was committed on the construction of Post Midwifery Institute at Gezewa and N17.4 million was spent on renovation of Isolation Centre in Yargaya.

    This investment, Tofa said, demonstrates Yusuf’s commitment to transforming Kano’s healthcare sector, prioritising access to quality care for all residents of the state. ( NAN)

    ( www.nannews.ng)

    AAG/BEKl/KUA

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    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Uche Anunne

  • China mulls law revision to step up protection, management of cultural relics

     

    Revision

    Beijing, June 25, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday started deliberating a draft revision to the Law on Protection of Cultural Relics.

    The draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for the second reading.

    The draft revision stipulated strengthening the protection and management of cultural relics, enhancing the investigation of cultural relics’ resources, and building a contingent of cultural relics professionals.

    It also specified provisions concerning further exploiting the value of cultural relics for better utilisation.

    Efforts should be made to further encourage and support public participation in the protection of cultural relics, according to the draft.

    The current Law on Protection of Cultural Relics was promulgated in November 1982 and has been amended five times, with a comprehensive revision in 2002. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/MNA
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Maureen Atuonwu