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Jan232025 by RareviewNo Comments

ENERGY SHAKE-UP: TRANSGRID ENERCO ACQUIRES 60% STAKE IN EKO ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

Energy

Transgrid Enerco Limited, a consortium formed by North South Power Company Limited (NSP), Axxela Limited, and the Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Growth Fund (SIIF), has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire a 60% equity stake in Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo). Eko DisCo is Nigeria’s second-largest electricity distribution company. The SPA was signed on January 21, 2025, and the transaction is expected to be finalized by April 2025. Reports earlier this month revealed that West Power and Gas Ltd (WPG), the parent company of Eko DisCo, had been negotiating the sale of its entire stake. The Transgrid Enerco consortium emerged as the preferred bidder in a process that began over a year ago. Although the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, industry ins...

Jan222025 by RareviewNo Comments

RENO AND THE ART OF BOOTLICKING: A STUDY IN POLITICAL SYCOPHANCY

Opinion

Valentine Obienyem OPINION By Valentine Obienyem ANYONE interested in observing the various shades of sycophancy should take the time to examine Reno Omokri’s antics. Simply because of the prospect of an appointment, he has shamelessly resorted to bootlicking President Tinubu and his wife, Remi. As if that were not enough, Reno has now turned his attention to licking Seyi Tinubu’s boots. Seyi, who is young enough to be his son! At this rate, it is only a matter of time before Reno begins bootlicking Seyi’s own son. Recently, he cited Trump as an example of presidents working with their children to justify his sycophantic position that Seyi Tinubu should even become the number two man to his father. However, just because Trump did something does not make it a universal standa...

Jan202025 by RareviewNo Comments

POLITICIANS AND INDEPENDENCE OF ELECTORAL UMPIRES

Opinion

By Paul Ejime OPINION MOST African countries make a ritual of adding the word “Independent” or “Autonomous” to the name of their electoral commissions. In reality, their election umpires are anything but, even where the national constitution guarantees the so-called independence. The “indefinite suspension” of Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) by Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai over actions deemed “disruptive to public order and stability,” is the latest case in point. According to an Executive Mansion statement on 15 January 2024, her suspension follows an investigation into recent protests by aggrieved NEC workers regarding “administrative decisions taken by the NEC chairperson without proper consultation.” Madam Brow...

Jan152025 by RareviewNo Comments

SUPER EAGLES NEW COACH ERIC CHELLE REVEALS BACKROOM STAFF

Sports

By Ali Elias The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially introduced Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium conference room in Abuja. Chelle, a 47-year-old Franco-Malian, was presented alongside his backroom staff, which includes first assistant Hadi Taboubi, fitness trainer Thomas Gornourec, and goalkeeper trainer Jean Daniel Padovani. A Familiar Team Chelle’s assistants bring a wealth of experience and an established working relationship, having collaborated with him previously at Algerian club MC Oran. Hadi Taboubi, a French-Tunisian, will serve as Chelle’s first assistant, continuing a partnership that dates back to their time coaching the Mali na...

Jan152025 by RareviewNo Comments

THE OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA MEMOIRS OF CONVENIENT MEMORY

Opinion

OPINION By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu ON 22 August 2024, Olukayode Ariwoola, the penultimate Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) retired from the bench and transitioned into a published author. At a well-attended event in the Abuja, the former CJN beamed at the public presentation of his autobiography. Published under the title Judging with Justice, the book was ghost written by Olanrewaju Akinsola (the author better known as Onigegewura). Laid out in 13 chapters and 496 pages, the author tells his story in the first 250 pages. The remainder of the book is dedicated to testimonials from the author’s colleagues in the judiciary, lawyers, friends, peers, and family members. The story reveals the son of a doting and committed dad who appears to take family and his faith seriously. Judg...

Jan102025 by RareviewNo Comments

UNILAG TO HONOR WTO DG NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, GRADUATE OVER 16,000 AT 55TH CONVOCATION

News

By Ali Elias The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is gearing up for its 55th convocation ceremony, where Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc) degree. Scheduled to run from January 10 to January 17, the week-long event will celebrate the achievements of 16,409 graduating students and honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society. Speaking at a pre-convocation briefing, UNILAG’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, stated that former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, will chair the occasion. She also announced that the convocation lecture, titled “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation,” will be delivered by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of t...

Jan102025 by RareviewNo Comments

ALARMING SURGE IN VIOLENCE IN SOUTH EAST: CATHOLIC NUNS ABDUCTED BY GUNMEN IN ANAMBRA STATE

News

Image credit: Chatgpt By Els William According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two Catholic nuns by yet-to-be-identified gunmen along Ufuma Road in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the incident in a statement issued in Onitsha on Wednesday. Ikenga stated that the nuns were kidnapped on Tuesday evening while returning from a vocational service meeting held in Ogboji. A Joint Security operation is reportedly underway to facilitate the rescue of the victims. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nnaghe Itam, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations have visited the scene for a spot assessment. According to Ikenga, the c...

Jan82025 by RareviewNo Comments

HUMAN METAPNEUMOVIRUS OUTBREAK: NIGERIA RAMPS UP SURVEILLANCE AMID GLOBAL CONCERN

Health

photo credit: Realnews By Ali Elias The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has affirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health following reports of a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China and other regions. In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, outlined the agency's proactive measures to address any potential threats. Dr. Idris emphasized that while the World Health Organization (WHO) has not classified HMPV as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the NCDC is closely monitoring global developments in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. “Nigeria’s National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system has not detected any ...

Jan82025 by RareviewNo Comments

URGENT CALL FOR ACTION: NATPAN APPEALS FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO SAVE TOMATO SECTOR

News

Photo credit: Realnews By Ali Elias The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address post-harvest losses in the tomato sector. The Chairman of NATPAN’s Kaduna State chapter, Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos. Zuntu emphasized that government intervention is critical to equipping tomato farmers with the necessary tools and infrastructure to minimize post-harvest losses, which would ultimately enhance value addition and foster sectoral growth. “Most farmers cannot afford loans for these equipment to aid reduction of post-harvest losses because they are smallholder farmers,” he said.&nbs...

Jan82025 by RareviewNo Comments

TAMPERED PUMPS AT FUEL FILLING STATIONS: NIGERIANS LEFT VULNERABLE AS REGULATORY OVERSIGHT FAILS

Energy

By Ali Elias Nigerians welcomed the recent reduction in petrol prices by major suppliers, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery. NNPCL cut its pump price from N1,060 to N965 per litre, while Dangote Refinery reduced its price to N899 per litre, directing buyers to MRS filling stations for access to their product. These reductions were expected to offer significant relief to motorists, particularly commercial drivers, amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges. However, widespread complaints from motorists have revealed that this anticipated relief has been undermined by persistent fraudulent practices at filling stations. Buyers report receiving poor-quality fuel that burns out quickly and allege that pumps are frequently tampered w...