NIGERIAN NEWS BLOGGERS

ECOWAS Proposes Solar-Powered Solutions to Region's Agric Challenges   The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREE) is rolling out farming techniques that will lead to higher per-hectare yields, significant increase in agricultural productivity and competitiveness through solar energy. This project is geared towards creating a globally competitive agricultural sector that is able to transform agricultural activities from being predominately rain-fed to one employing the use of modern energy technologies that will drive increased productivity across West Africa. Mahama Kappiah, executive director of the ECREE, while in a presentation at the workshop jointly organized by Parliament and ECREE, on promoting Agricultural Competitiveness through solar energy stated that Agriculture is a primary employer in the region providing jobs for over 60 percent of the population, hence must be well enhanced.  Stating the challenges faced by ...

Gunmen kill FRSC officer, injure other on Lokoja-Okene highway Unidentified gunmen have attacked two Federal Road Safety Corps officers travelling from Abuja to Lagos on an official assignment on Friday, killing one and injuring the other. The officers were travelling in a Toyota Hilux pick-up van with registration number, PILOT 01A when the driver was shot in the head at Oshawa near Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The Corps Education Officer, Commander Bisi Kazeem, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the incident occurred at about 1:50 p.m. on the Lokoja-Okene Highway. It said, “The suspected kidnappers, according to first information report, were said to have opened fire at the sight of the marked vehicle and, unfortunately, shot the driver in the head, killing him instantly. The vehicle subsequently lost control and veered off the road. It took hours before the rescue team could locate the vehicle in the bush and evacuate the victims.” The Corps Ma...

IPPIS: Reps intervene in FG, ASUU crisis The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities over the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System. The House resolved to probe into the crisis following the unanimous adoption of a motion by Tajudeen Abass, who called for the intervention of the parliament in the crisis. The House mandated the Committees on Finance; Education; and Labour, Employment and Productivity “to intervene in the conflict with a view to identifying the cause of the conflict, reconciling the worrying parties, and report in two weeks’ time.” While the Federal Government is insisting on capturing university lecturers on the IPPIS, ASUU has insisted on being exempted from the system. The Federal Government had said it had received the nominal roll of about 41 universities as part of moves to capture university workers, despite ASUU’s opposition. ...

APC condemns arrest of members in Zamfara The Zamfara Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the alleged arrest and detention of its members in the state. The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Lawal Liman, condemned the action in Gusau on Thursday while meeting with the 14 local government chairmen of the party in the state. He described the arrests as a political witch hunt by the state government. Liman noted that members of the party have been facing harassment, intimidation and threats from the government. According to him, the meeting was summoned to discuss various issues affecting the party, especially the current challenges of harassment and intimidation that members of the party are facing in the state. “I commend APC members in the state for their resilience in supporting the party in spite of the the threats, intimidation and harassment from the present administration in the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). ...