The Tata Punch EV is coming; will be re-styled to look more EV-like: Shailesh Chandra
When asked about the potential for a smaller EV, and possibly reviving the Nano brand, Shailesh Chandra remained non-committal. “With the upcoming Harrier EV, I can look at providing all options for consumers, including a 4x4 option. But going forward, most international EVs are using prismatic cells.” The upcoming EV is an electrified version of Tata’s compact SUV, the Punch. So the Punch EV, which is coming, will be styled to look more like an EV,” he said. Tata Motors aims to debut its new 1.5-litre TGDI turbo-petrol engine in the upcoming Tata Sierra, following which, it will be offered in the Safari and the Harrier.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 23:52 UTC
Why African countries are in debt distress — Adeosun
Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun has said that African countries are often in debt distress because they failed to cut social spending. According to Adeosun, “The long periods needed to carry out debt restructuring, such as that in Zambia, have their roots in lack of action before a default takes place. She pointed to a “failure to manage the pre-period,” adding that countries in debt distress are often reluctant to admit it due to the need to cut social spending, especially the democratic one. “The lack of international mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring hampers the prospects for Africa achieving sustainable public finances or being able to contribute to the clean energy transition. “We have no framework for debt restructuring across sovereigns, and the result is too little debt restructuring, too late.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 23:46 UTC
Tata Punch Completes Two Years: Price Hikes, New CNG Variants And More
Celebrating its second birthday, let’s recap all that has happened with the Tata Punch in the past year. Price IncrementsAt launch, the Punch was priced between Rs 5.49 lakh and Rs 9.39 lakh (ex-showroom). At launch, the Tata Punch only came with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which made 86PS and 115Nm. Following its pre-production showcase at the Auto Expo in February 2023, the Tata Punch is now available in a CNG version as well. A New Foe AppearsSince its launch to this year in July, the Tata Punch had no direct rival.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 19:49 UTC
Over 40 feared dead in Yobe road accident
No fewer than 40 travellers are feared dead after three vehicles were involved in a ghastly motor accident due to a collision along Potiskum/Nangere Road in Yobe State. An eyewitness told newsmen on Wednesday that a trailer, which was conveying traders to the popular cattle market in Potiskum, caused the accident. “We counted 40 dead bodies, while over 30 people sustained serious injuries,” sources disclosed. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no reaction from the police or the Federal Road Safety Corps. The accident occurred in Nangere, a local government area in the state.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
October 18, 2023 19:06 UTC
Misconceptions: Why BRI is not a danger for environment | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
The Green Silk Road serves as an effective solution for implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda. China has actively promoted the Green Silk Road through the establishment of guidelines and partnership agreements. These programs focus on managing environmental risks associated with overseas BRI projects and supply chains, further underlining China’s commitment to sustainability. A key aspect of China’s commitment to sustainability within the BRI is the shift away from coal-related investments. The Green Silk Road within the BRI represents a forward-looking commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and global cooperation.
Source:The Guardian
October 18, 2023 15:15 UTC
The king’s mother is a witch
If the following is jumbled, it’s because the protagonists and Nigeria’s mainstream media aren’t doing enough to unravel the political smorgasbord. Failure to discuss the matter in public may sound like when a Yoruba deigns to publicly acknowledge that the King’s mother is a witch! Neither does it confirm if President Tinubu obtained his Bachelor’s degree certificate directly from Chicago State University, or if he took the “Oluwole” option that some people insinuate. But the communications group of the Tinubu Presidency does not seem to know its public relations responsibilities to the President. Simon Kolawole, Publisher of The Cable, who worked with Atiku’s TheWeek magazine that interrogated the Tinubu certificate gaps in 1999, is a resource waiting to be tapped– though he adds that TheWeek never queried Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 14:36 UTC
Over 100 mini-electricity grids now operating in Nigeria – FG
Over 100 mini-electricity grids are currently in operation across the country, making Nigeria one of the largest mini-grid markets in Africa, the Federal Government revealed on Tuesday. It disclosed this through the Rural Electrification Agency, a Federal Government organisation, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the REA and the Africa Mini-Grid Developers Association in Abuja. Partners in the deal signed the MoU to further promote and accelerate mini-grid development in Nigeria, with focus on knowledge sharing, capacity building, better coordination of the sector, among other initiatives. Salihijo said the REA had over the years expanded its partnership portfolio, while collaborating with stakeholders across the off-grid energy value chain. He noted that with the pivotal role and sustained impact of AMDA in Africa’s renewable energy space, the REA and AMDA partnership was a significant step forward for the mini-grid sector in Nigeria.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 12:05 UTC
Army begins security operation in Bayelsa
The Nigerian Army has commenced a security operation code-named Exercise Still Waters III to tackle pipeline vandalism, cultism, illegal oil refining, kidnapping and other crimes in Bayelsa State. In his speech, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa hailed the military for the exercise, saying security was imperative to ensuring good governance. He pledged the support of the state government to security agencies to keep Bayelsa peaceful. He assured that personnel of the Nigerian Army were ready to pay the supreme price for the peace and security of Nigeria. Earlier, the Commander 16 Brigade Nigerian Army, Sadisu Yakassai, a brigadier-general, said the exercise was designed to cover all areas of security concerns in Bayelsa, adding that “relevant stakeholders within the security architecture” were involved.
Source:The Guardian
October 18, 2023 11:56 UTC
FG estimates electricity demand to hit 45,662MW by 2030
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said electricity demand will grow to 45,662 megawatts by 2030. This was contained in the 2022 Market Competition Report by the Commission obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday. The report said, “The installed capacity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry grew by 7.95 per cent from 12,132MW as at December 2015 to 13,097MW as at December 2022. During the same period, however, the average available capacity decreased by 2,324MW from 6,401MW recorded in 2015 to 4,059MW in 2022. “It is noteworthy however that the reported power generation statistics do not include the off-grid and captive generation capacity.”Experts have said the country needs atleast 30, 000MW to reach sufficiency.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 11:31 UTC
178,864 pre-paid meters installed in Q2 2023 - NERC
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) made this known in its Q2, 2023 report pasted on its website on Wednesday. The commission said a total of 168,397 meters were installed under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework while 9,302 meters were installed under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) framework. It said that the vendor and Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) financed framework recorded 1,143 and 22 meter installations respectively. ADVERTISEMENT”The commission expects DisCos to utilise any of the five meter financing frameworks that have been provided in the 2021 Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations. As a safeguard for customers against exploitation due to the lack of meters,” the report said.
Source:The Guardian
October 18, 2023 11:17 UTC
What is discrimination in the workplace?
And while Nigeria ratified the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958, protection against discrimination in Nigeria is very weak. This is however a limited provision in many ways; it seems to protect Nigerian citizens only and it merely protects a person against discrimination based on statute or arising from the application of a statute or discrimination based on executive or administrative action of the government. And due to the fact that government is becoming an insignificant employer as the private sector employs majority and there is no constitutional protection as such for employees in respect of discriminatory policies in the workplace. Section 42(2) which provides that no citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth does not afford better protection either. Discrimination in the workplace is also forbidden by section 17 of the Constitution.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
October 18, 2023 03:15 UTC
Why litigation trails monarchs' selection in Yorubaland
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Tuesday, revealed why litigations always followed the selections of kings in some parts of Yorubaland. He made this revelation at his Alarere residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, during a press briefing as part of activities marking his 81st birthday celebration. Balogun said, “As long as the people who are saddling with the responsibility of electing or selecting kings are failing in their traditional function, the aggrieved candidate(s) will always seek redress in court. “Litigation is a function of democracy. It will not end as long as injustice remains in selection of monarchs in Yorubaland.
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 02:38 UTC
Tinubu dissolves Hajj Commission board, appoints Arabi as CEO
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, approved the dissolution of the Board of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. He also appointed Jalal Arabi to serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission for a term of four years in the first instance. “The new Chairman / CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, will assume office in acting capacity on October 18, 2023, and will continue to serve in substantive capacity for a fresh term of four years, beginning on January 17, 2024,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed on Tuesday. The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new NAHCON Chief Executive Officer; approves dissolution of NAHCON Board.’Consequently, Tinubu directed the outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Zikrullah Hassan, to proceed on 3-months pre-retirement leave as provisioned by Public Service Rule 120243 with effect from October 18, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on January 17, 2024. The President said he “expects that the new NAHCON leadership will serve in reverence of Allah and with utmost adherence to the precepts of service according to the Holy Qur’an.”
Source:Punch
October 18, 2023 00:27 UTC
Bluff masters: White-ball cricket’s ultimate sucker punch
And given that he faced a lot of genuine fast bowling, that isn't a compliment to be taken lightly. Roberts' change of pace would rob the batters of timing, and often that is all that was needed. But when the fast bowler retired in 1983, for a while it seemed like the slower ball variation went into hibernation as well. Now, every bowler worth his salt worked on a slower ball. When asked about Rizwan's wicket, he said: "I saw Jaddu's ball was turning, so I count my slower ball as a spinner's slower ball.
Source:Punch
October 17, 2023 23:35 UTC
Troops recover artillery projectile launchers from IPOB camp – Army
Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered two locally made Artillery Projectile Launchers from the camp of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network, in Anambra State. Mr Nwachukwu, a brigadier-general, said the combined troops of 302 Artillery and 14 Field Engineer Regiments recovered the equipment while conducting operations against terrorists on Monday. He said the artillery weapons, armed with projectiles, were seized alongside other items, when troops swooped on the dissident fighters, who fled in disarray, deserting their camp on sighting the troops’ advancement. He said the troops recovered several items from the camp, including one crude oil cooking oven, three reservoirs and several connecting hoses and pipes. Other items recovered were three mobile phones, one power-generating set, three pumping machines, one CCTV camera mounted on a tree top, a substance suspected to be cannabis and some fetish objects.
Source:The Guardian
October 17, 2023 21:51 UTC