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18-year-old Katsina student narrates his escape from bandits
An 18-year-old student of Government Science School, Kankara, in Katsina State, Osama Aminu Maale, has narrated how he escaped from bandits who kidnapped hundreds of his colleagues last Friday.
About 520 students, he said, were abducted when the armed bandits invaded the school Friday night.
He told AFP on the telephone, “There were a total of 520 of us that were taken by the gunmen from the school.”
“After they took us away we stopped inside the bus where they made the older students take a headcount. We counted 520,” he said.
The hostages were split into groups before Maale and four others escaped.
“One of the gunmen hit me repeatedly when I failed to keep up with the rest of the group due to my failing health before he let me trail behind, giving me the chance to escape,” he added.
Although the Federal Government says it is making efforts to rescue the students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels, UNICEF condemned the assault on the school, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari, who visited the school on Saturday, said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages.
“Soldiers are currently in the bushes fighting the bandits. We will do all we can to ensure all the abducted children are reclaimed,” he said.
Masari said it was still not clear how many students were “in the hands of the bandits” and how many had managed to escape.
“The school has a population of 839 and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students,” Masari told an FG delegation on Sunday.
“We are still counting because more are still coming out of the forest,” said the governor.
“Up till this moment, no one can give a precise figure of the children abducted,” he stated, adding that students who escaped confirmed some of their peers were taken.
Since the attack, all secondary schools in the state have been shut.
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Sanwo-Olu targets 24-hour power supply, signs Lagos Electricity Bill 2024
Sanwo-Olu targets 24-hour power supply, signs Lagos Electricity Bill 2024
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the Lagos Electricity Bill 2024 into law, a step considered as pivotal towards ensuring 24-hour electricity supply across the state.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser to the governor on media and publicity said Sanwo-Olu assented to the bill on Tuesday.
He disclosed this via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Akosile’s tweet noted that this signing followed the Federal Government’s approval in 2023, which granted states the authority to generate and distribute electricity, paving the way for Lagos to take control of its power supply and distribution.
The bill is expected to significantly enhance the state’s energy infrastructure, providing uninterrupted power that will benefit households, businesses, and industries alike.
“Lagos State Governor @jidesanwoolu today signed the Lagos Electricity Bill 2024. The bill is a major step by the State Government, to ensure 24 hours electricity supply to every nook and cranny of the State, following the FG’s nod for States to generate and distribute energy in 2023,” the tweet read.
Also featured in Akosile’s post was a short video showing Governor Sanwo-Olu, flanked by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and a few other top members of his cabinet, as he officially signed the bill into law.
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The signing marks a new chapter in the state’s energy reform agenda, promising to tackle long-standing electricity supply issues and strengthen Lagos’s economic and infrastructural development.
The Lagos Electricity Bill 2024 signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, marks a major step towards energy independence for Lagos State.
It replaces the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law of 2018 and aligns with the Federal Government’s 2023 approval allowing states to generate and distribute electricity.
The Bill establishes the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission to oversee the electricity market, regulate power generation, and set tariffs. It also creates the Lagos State Electrification Agency to promote off-grid solutions and enhance electricity access in underserved areas.
A key feature of the Bill is the creation of the Lagos Electrification Fund, aimed at financing the state’s grid expansion and off-grid projects.
The bill also introduces an Integrated Electricity Policy focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. It outlines a roadmap for a sustainable power supply, with private-sector involvement encouraged.
Additionally, the Bill establishes an Independent System Operator to manage grid operations and a Power Enforcement Unit to tackle electricity theft.
With these measures, Lagos aims to improve power reliability, attract investment, and become a leader in Nigeria’s energy transition, providing consistent and sustainable electricity for its residents.
Sanwo-Olu targets 24-hour power supply, signs Lagos Electricity Bill 2024
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BREAKING: Unfreeze NSIPA accounts to pay 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries, Reps tell FG
BREAKING: Unfreeze NSIPA accounts to pay 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries, Reps tell FG
The House of Representatives has issued a directive to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to mandate the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to unfreeze all accounts belonging to the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) within a 72-hour timeframe.
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JUST IN: House of Reps opposes CBN’s plan to retire 1,000 workers
JUST IN: House of Reps opposes CBN’s plan to retire 1,000 workers
The House of Representatives has kicked against the plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) to retire over 1,000 of its workers
The House asked the suspension of the exercise and initiated an investigation into the associated N50 billion payoff scheme.
Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kama Nkemkama (LP, Ebonyi), the House asked the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure that the rights of the affected staff are protected under Nigerian labour laws.
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Lawmakers raised concerns about the transparency and legality of the retirement criteria and the potential misuse of public funds.
The House said an ad hoc committee will be set up to scrutinize the impacts on the financial sector and ensure compliance with labour laws.
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has also been tasked to safeguard the rights of affected staff, highlighting the socio-economic implications of the decision.
JUST IN: House of Reps opposes CBN’s plan to retire 1,000 workers
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