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FG Prioritises $2bn Fibre Optic Project to Boost Connectivity

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The Federal Government has placed a high priority on a $2 billion fibre optic expansion project aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s internet infrastructure and driving economic growth.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced this at the G20 Digital Economy Group Meeting in Maceió, Brazil, on Friday.
Supported by the US Trade and Development Agency, the European Union, and other international partners, the project seeks to expand Nigeria’s fibre optic backbone from its current 35,000km to 125,000km, significantly improving access to high-speed, reliable internet.
The minister in his address stressed the importance of the project in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. He highlighted its role in promoting economic growth, fostering social inclusion, and providing access to essential services.
Dr. Tijani noted that expanding the fibre optic network will empower more Nigerians, especially those in rural areas, to participate in the global digital economy, thereby improving livelihoods and opening up new economic opportunities.
Universal and equitable access to meaningful connectivity is a cornerstone for economic development, social inclusion, and access to essential services in today’s digital age,” the minister said.
He added that this aligns with Nigeria’s goal of driving shared prosperity and diversifying the economy.
The minister also spoke on the government’s broader digital strategy, which includes digital literacy and skills development. He revealed that the Federal Government aims to ensure that 70% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2027. To achieve this, the government has launched initiatives like the 3MTT program, described as the world’s largest technical talent acceleration initiative.
Dr. Tijani also announced the establishment of the National Broadband Alliance, a platform that brings together key stakeholders to identify sustainable ways to expand internet access across the country.
Drawing inspiration from global examples, the minister referenced how rural farmers in China have used social media platforms to bypass traditional markets, connecting directly with consumers and improving their incomes. He believes similar innovations could benefit Nigerian communities.
The minister further discussed the government’s commitment to enhancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), a crucial aspect of its digital transformation agenda. He emphasised that DPI investments are key to building public trust by ensuring transparent, reliable, and accessible government services.
With support from the European Union and the World Bank, Nigeria has developed a digital ID system, which now includes over 90% of the adult population. This system, Dr. Tijani said, presents opportunities for integrating digital identity with government services, enabling a unified approach to citizen support during critical life events.
To streamline digital governance, the Federal Government is also pushing for new legislation aimed at eliminating silos across government agencies in the use of technology. This legislation, currently under public review, aims to create a data exchange system that enhances interoperability between agencies and strengthens Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
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At last, Marketers Agree to Crash Petrol Prices as Dangote Sells Fuel at Reduced Cost after Deal

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said about 30,000 of its members will start lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery The association’s president, Abubakar Maigandi, said that the refinery agreed to sell the product at N940 and N960, respectively He said the development means that petrol prices will crash at the pumps in the coming weeks following the new deal

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says over 30,000 of its members are ready to buy petrol in bulk from the Dangote Refinery. The association revealed that the petrol price from the mega refinery was about N940 per litre via ships and N990 via trucks.

IPMAN president Abubakar Maigandi disclosed in a television interview on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, that the petrol pump prices at its outlets will drop following the deal with the refinery. The association reached a deal with the $20 billion refinery on Monday, November 11, 2024, to purchase petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products directly. The agreement comes after months of negotiations following the exit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as the sole off-taker of the refinery.

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Petrol prices to crash by over N50 Maigandi explained that the Lekki-based facility had been obliged to let marketers buy petrol, diesel, and Kerosene to supply to their depots and retail outlets. The IPMAN boss updated Nigerians on the pricing, saying the refinery gave marketers two rates based on preferences. He said marketers can load at the gantry at N990 per litre or vial vessel transport at N940. Punch reports that the new price is lower than the N960 and N990 per litre on ships and trucks offered by the refinery last week.

The IPMAN helmsman disclosed that the partnership aims to ensure a consistent and affordable supply of petrol and other products nationwide. He stated further that petrol prices may crash by N50 or more, depending on the location.

PETROAN set up a meeting with Dangote Refinery According to Maigandi, the direct purchase of petrol from the refinery will end payments to intermediaries such as the NNPC and depot owners, saying that the cost will reflect on petrol prices in the coming weeks. The IPMAN president said the new arrangement will also end fuel scarcity as products will be available nationwide in all seasons.

Additionally, the management of the Dangote Refinery is set to meet with Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) officials to discuss petrol lifting. The group’s publicity secretary, Joseph Obele, said the refinery, through its president, Billy Harry, mailed seeking a business meeting.

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Obele said Harry has inaugurated a team of seven persons to represent the association at the meeting. NNPC to now sell only Dangote petrol Legit.ng earlier reported that NNPC had announced that it stopped importing refined petroleum products. Mele Kyari, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this while speaking at the Lagos’s Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ (NAPE) conference and said that the company now sources its fuel needs from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Kyari confirmed that NNPC has shifted away from importation and will source from local refiners, especially Dangote, according to BusinessDay reports.

Source: Legit

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Police save abduct£d 14-month-old baby from nanny

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have successfully rescued a 14-month-old baby, Grace Osamagbe, who was abducted by her nanny, Rejoice Chukwu, in April.

Commissioner of Police Umoru Ozigi told newsmen on Saturday in Benin, that the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit arrested Chukwu, 24, and her boyfriend, Destiny Uchechukwu, 28, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom

According to Ozigi, the suspects abducted the child in Benin and collected a ransom of N160,000.

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“In spite of receiving the ransom, the suspects allegedly sold the baby for N500,000 to Doris Chiwendu in Owerri, Imo State.

“Following intense interrogation, police tracked down Chiwendu and another suspect, Jane Amaigbo, in Ubomiri, Imo State, and rescued the baby on November 9.”

The police commissioner explained that the suspects would soon be charged in court.

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Ondo: Hoodlums attack INEC officials in Ogbagi Akoko, destr0y electoral materials, others

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Some hoodlums have attacked and assaulted officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Polling Unit 19, Ward 6 Ogbagi in the Akoko area of Ondo State in the ongoing governorship election in the state.

According to a video posted on social media, the Presiding Officer (PO) of the polling unit said that the attackers destroyed all the electoral materials at the polling unit, stole their phones and purses, and physically assaulted them.

The Presiding Officer, who said that the attack happened shortly after a PDP agent at the polling unit was arrested by the police for tearing votes, said that her Assistant Presiding Officer 1 (APO 1) she identified as Bello Samuel, had been missing since they were attacked.

Narrating what happened, the Presiding Officer said, “As the process of the election was going on, a party agent from PDP tore a vote without my consent. I don’t know his name because he had not indicated his name.

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“I was trying to address him but he asked me to do my work. In order to resolve the matter, the Kabiyesi of the community (community leader) came but he (the PDP) agent was trying to tear another vote when the officers (police) at the polling unit called the DPO for his arrest.

“They (police) asked me what I wanted and I said he should be removed or the polling unit should be canceled. Then, he was arrested and the election continued.

“Unaware, we discovered a gang of people parking the election materials and they beat us up – I and my APOs. Even till now, I haven’t seen my APO 1, Bello Samuel by name.

“Our phones have been stolen with our purses, and all the electoral materials have been destroyed except the BVAS which I escaped with.”

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She said that before the hoodlums attacked them, “I called SPO and the officers called the DPO. After that, I know nothing preserved by grace.”

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