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Tag: Benin

  • ‘Electricity is not charity’, FG threatens to cut off Togo, Niger, Benin

    ‘Electricity is not charity’, FG threatens to cut off Togo, Niger, Benin

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has told the international electricity customers – Niger, Togo, and Republic of Benin-to pay up their outstanding $7million debt because “electricity is not charity”.

    The chairman, West African Power Pool (WAAP), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, whom reporters in Abuja accused of playing the big brother with Nigeria’s electricity to the countries, disclosed that Nigeria was also strict with the international customers just as the Nigerians in debt recovery.

    Mohammed, who is also the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), recalled that on his assumption of office, the outstanding bills of the international customers were over $100million.

    Stressing that Nigeria does not supply any customers electricity for free, he noted that the Federal Government disconnects the international customers just as it does to Nigerians when they owe electricity debts.

    The WAAP chairman said that the Federal Government has now restricted its electricity supply to only contracted international customers.

    According to him, Nigeria has insisted that the indebted international customers that were disconnected from the grid pay up their debts before they are reconnected.

    His words: “It is not because I am the chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAAP) that I will be allowing international customers to cheat Nigeria.

    “When I took over as MD TCN, both Benin and Togo were owing Nigeria more than $100 million. The debt now remains $7million.

    “Niger is owing less than $2million. In short, we are not leaving them. We disconnect them as we disconnect customers here in Nigeria. Electricity is not charity. We cannot just allow people to consume electricity and leave us like that.

    “As at now, we have restricted their supply to only their contracted ones. We are insisting they pay all their outstanding before we reconnect them and we increase the off- take.”

    He corrected the impression that electricity across the border is charity, noting that it is a business from which Nigeria makes millions of dollars like any other exported commodity.

    Mohammed said that Nigeria has a comparative advantage of electricity generation in Africa.

  • BREAKING: Senegal defeat Benin to reach AFCON semi-finals

    The Senegalese national football team have qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt after beating Benin Republic 1-0.
    Details to follow….

  • Benin upset Morocco on penalties in huge Nations Cup shock

    Ten-man Benin rode their luck to eliminate heavily fancied Morocco on penalties in an extraordinary upset in the opening match of the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.

    Benin advanced to quarter-finals, after four successive draws, as they outscored Morocco 4-1 in the shootout after a 1-1 stalemate at the end of extra time in the last-16 tie.

    The small west African nation survived a last-gasp stoppage-time penalty missed by Morocco and an extra-time dismissal to create one of the tournament’s great upsets.

    Defender Moise Adilehou opened the scoring to give Benin a shock 53rd-minute lead before Youssef En-Nesyri equalised after 76 minutes.

  • Benin residents shocked by election postponement

    Some residents of Benin, Edo, have expressed shock over the postponement of the general elections by one week by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The respondents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that they traveled from their various locations to Benin to exercise their civic responsibility.

    Mr Osakwe Igbenigbi, a banker, condemned the development, adding that the situation was capable of discouraging some voters to exercise their franchise.

    “INEC had has taken a wrong decision, I don’t stay here, I live in Lagos. After traveling from Lagos, INEC postponed the elections, it is bad because it will discourage people from voting.

    “I am not sure I will be coming next week again because I can’t travel the distance again,” he said.

    Mrs Lydia Omoye, a trader said that the postponement of the election was capable of changing the minds of people who truly wanted to vote.

    “I came from Lokoja because of this election. I am disappointed and I don’t think I will be able to risk another traveling by next week,” she said.

    Another citizen, Dr Omorogbe Ikponwonsa, a medical doctor, appealed to voters not to be discouraged by the postponement of the elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23,while the governorship and state assembly elections were also shifted from March 2 to March 9.

    In 2015, the presidential election was shifted from Feb. 14 to March 28, while the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for Feb. 28, were shifted to April 11. (

  • Oba Ewuare warns youths against evil activities

    Oba Ewuare warns youths against evil activities

    Oba Ewuare II of Benin has cautioned youths to desist from evil activities capable of ruining their futures.

    The monarch gave the advice at a lavish reception for the youth on Saturday at the palace ground in Benin.

    He said that for the young ones to excel in life, they must eschew all forms of youthful delinquencies and focus on virtues that would make them future leaders.

    Oba Ewuare also cautioned them to always be diligent in their behaviours, noting that obedience to parents’ instructions was key to generational blessings.

    He added that the palace had concluded arrangements to host the event twice a year.

    The monarch further reassured the people of the Kingdom of better life, stressing that the it would do everything within its powers to ensure that peace and tranquility reigned in Benin kingdom and Edo, at large.

    The event also featured dance competition and various prizes given to winners, while white pigeons were released as symbol of peace and tranquility in the state.

     

  • Flying Eagles to face Ghana, Benin in WAFU tournament

    Flying Eagles to face Ghana, Benin in WAFU tournament

    Nigeria’s national under-20 side will face their counterparts from Ghana, Niger Republic and Benin Republic in Group B of the WAFU Under-20 Cup Tournament, an official said on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition is billed for Lome, the capital of Togo from Dec. 6 to Dec. 16.

    Organisers have put the competition together as a major preparatory programme for the sub-region’s five teams which have qualified to participate at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations finals.

    The competition is holding in Tanzania from Feb. 2 to Feb. 17.

    Seven-time champions Nigeria, alongside Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger Republic will take part in the 11–day tournament in Lome.

    The five countries will be joined in Tanzania by Burundi, Angola and the host nation.

    The Flying Eagles come up against the Young Squirrels of Benin in their first match of the tournament on December 7.

    This is before matches against Junior Mena of Niger Republic (Dec. 9) and Ghana’s Black Satellites (Dec. 12).

    The eight–nation tournament will see hosts Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Senegal contending in Group A.

    Matches have been scheduled for the Stade Municipal and the Stade JCA, both in Lome.

    Togo and Cote d’Ivoire will battle it out in the opening match on Dec. 6, hours before Senegal confront Burkina Faso.

    Both matches will come up at the Stade Municipal, which is also venue for the final match on Dec,16.

  • Benin Traditional council announces Oct. 20 for book launch

    The Benin Traditional Council in collaboration with the Oba Ewuare Foundation, have said that the book titled “The Benin Monarchy, An Anthropolology of Benin History” would be launched on Oct. 20.
    The Chairman of the committee for the book launch, Matthew Uhumoibhi, made this known on Monday at a news briefing held at the palace of Oba Ewuare II in Benin.
    Uhumoibhi described the book as the most iconic on the revered monarch and people of Benin kingdom.
    According to him, the book which has 599 pages with 441 images, has contributions from 18 erudite scholars.
    Uhumoibhi said that Oba Ewuare had extended invitation to heads of government as well as various traditional rulers across the country for the event.
    He said that the Red Book x-ray’s the unique essence of Benin history and its cultural heritage .
    The chairman of the committee also pointed out that the book would be accessed online, adding that it would be made available free for students in secondary and primary schools.
     

  • Police arrest car thieves, recover vehicles in Benin

    Police arrest car thieves, recover vehicles in Benin

    The Zone 5 Police Command, Benin, has arrested a syndicate of five, who specialised in stealing cars, using master keys and two suspected armed robbers.

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin, Mr Rasheed Olatunde, made this disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Friday.

    Olatunde said the arrest was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris; to mop up illegal arms in the country.

    He said that the suspects were arrested by the police operatives on Aug. 8 in Benin, while acting on credible intelligence.

    The police chief said a fortnight ago, the zone recorded tremendous success, following the arrest of a suspected criminal gang and subsequent recovery of 11 illegal firearms.

    Olatunde said that the arrest of the members of the syndicate was sequel to a complaint that a Toyota Corolla was stolen at a park, lodged by one Ale Endurance through his counsel.

    According to him, following the complaint, operatives from the anti-vice section were ordered to begin a manhunt for the suspects, hence the subsequent recovery of the car.

    The police chief said in the course of the investigation, a suspect was arrested, who confessed to having received the stolen car from another suspect.

    Olatunde said that the arrest of the second suspect led to the arrest of another suspect, who is also a car dealer, adding that the car dealer subsequently led the operatives to the arrest of the gang in Onitsha.

    “The principal suspect (names withheld), who was picked up in Onitsha, confessed to being a welder by profession,’’ he said.

    Olatunde said, “the suspect specialises in designing master keys for the gang’’.

    He said that the police were doing their best to clean up Benin and fish out bad eggs.

    The police chief reminded the public that security was a collective responsibility of all citizens and enjoined them to support the police.

    NAN

  • University of Benin recalls 5 rusticated students

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) says it has recalled five students recently rusticated for their roles in the Nov. 23, 2017 students’ protest.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Faraday Orumwunse, made this known on Tuesday in Benin at a news briefing.

    Orumwunse said the recall of the students followed the appeal in writing by the rusticated students, the Students’ Union as well as the intervention of well-meaning stakeholders.

    He said from all indications, the protest was uncalled for and designed only to serve the illegitimate purpose of portraying the university in bad light while disrupting its academic calendar.

    The vice chancellor said it was difficult to understand why the students’ union would call for a protest within 24 hours of receiving the assurance of the Pro-Chancellor that the issues raised in their letters would be reviewed.

    According to him, management holds the views of students’ representatives in very high esteem and has always shown willingness to dialogue with the students.

    “Nevertheless, management will not tolerate a situation where a few individuals will deploy the students’ union engagement mechanism for the furtherance of illegitimate purpose,’’ he said.

    The vice-chancellor said it was untrue that the Chancellor of the institution and Emir of Kano, Mohammad Sanusi II, was involved in determining the school’s new charges.

    He explained that the Governing Council of a university headed by a Pro- Chancellor was solely responsible for the financial operations of a university and not the Chancellor.

    The vice-chancellor, however, said the management had reviewed the issues that led to the protest.

    The students of the institution on Nov. 23, 2017 during the institution’s 47 Founder’s Day and 43rd convocation ceremonies protested the increase by the school management of accommodation charges.

  • Anti-robbery squad arrests two robbery suspects in Edo

    Anti-robbery squad arrests two robbery suspects in Edo

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Zone 4 Anti-Robbery Squad has announced the arrests of two robbery suspects.

    A statement signed by the spokesman of the zone, DSP Emeka Iheanacho on Thursday in Benin stated that the suspects were arrested during a routine patrol in the Benin metropolis, following a distress call.

    Iheanacho said that the team’s prompt response brought about the arrest of one Edo Nosamudiana and Anthony Osaze, both males, while other suspects escaped.

    He said that the suspects were in possession of a cut-to-size single barrel gun.

    The police spokesman also said that the suspects has confessed to the crime, and also claimed to be members of the Eiye cult group.

    “They confessed to have gone to Ute Quarters, on a revenge mission against another cult group alleged to be responsible for the death of one of their members during a clash on Jan. 2, 2018.

    “According to the suspects, as they got to Ute Quarters and could not find their target at home, the suspects resorted to criminal activities by robbing and dispossessing members of the public and innocent persons in the area of their handsets, cash and other valuable items.’’

    Iheanacho said that investigation was still ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

    He urged members of the public to continue to support and partner with the Police and other security agencies in the initiative to make the zone a more secured and better place for all.