Police Commence Third-Party Vehicle Insurance Enforcement, Defaulters May Pay ₦250,000 Fine.
The police in Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Edo states have announced the commencement of the enforcement of the mandatory minimum of Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance with effect from February 1, 2025. This is in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun who noted that vehicle owners in Lagos State are required to possess a minimum of valid third-party insurance. Read more
Athena Commentary: The enforcement of mandatory Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance by the Nigerian Police is a commendable move to ensure compliance with the law and protect road users. However, many citizens remain unaware of the benefits and legal requirements of this policy. Rather than resorting solely to punitive measures, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) must step up and educate motorists through mass media campaigns, community engagements, and multilingual awareness programs. Knowledge-driven enforcement is the key to achieving road safety and financial protection for all Nigerians.
Increase In Electricity Tariffs Expected Within Months — FG
The Federal Government says Nigerians should brace up for fresh electricity tariffs in months. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said this in an interview in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, according to Bloomberg. Verheijen was in Tanzania attending a World Bank-backed conference where Nigeria presented a $32 billion plan to boost electricity connections by 2030. Private investors are expected to contribute $15.5 billion and the rest will come from public sources, including the World Bank and African Development Bank. Read more
Athena Commentary: The proposed electricity tariff increase must come with a significant improvement in power supply. Nigerians have long endured erratic service despite previous hikes, and raising tariffs without fixing reliability issues would be unfair. For higher rates to be justified, the government must ensure better generation, transmission, and distribution. If consumers pay more, they deserve uninterrupted electricity. A well-structured subsidy should also protect lower-income users. Economic growth and private investment are crucial, but public trust matters too. Without transparency and accountability, increased tariffs will only add to citizens’ burdens without solving the power crisis.
‘TETFund disbursed over N1.9tr to tertiary institutions in 13 years’
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has said that the intervention agency has disbursed around N2 trillion to tertiary institutions across the country between 2011 and 2024. He stated that the intervention was deployed to enhance infrastructural projects such as senate buildings, classrooms, lecture theatres, auditoria, ICT centres, laboratories and laboratory research equipment, libraries, workshops, and hostels, among many others, across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria. Read more
Athena Commentary: The recent disclosure by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, regarding the disbursement of approximately N2 trillion to tertiary institutions from 2011 to 2024 speaks about the significant investment in Nigeria’s higher education sector. But despite these allocations, many universities still are in pitiable conditions, lacking adequate infrastructure, with little to no visible impact of the funds.
NCDC increases surveillance at entry points amid Uganda’s Ebola outbreak
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through the National Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (EVHD) Technical Working Group, has heightened surveillance at points of entry following the reported outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan species in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District. Read more
Athena Commentary: The NCDC’s proactive measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda are commendable, but the effectiveness of these efforts hinges on strict implementation and public cooperation. Heightened surveillance at points of entry, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and public awareness campaigns are crucial in preventing a potential outbreak in Nigeria. Transparency in communication, coordination with global health bodies, and ensuring frontline healthcare workers are adequately equipped will be key in mitigating risks. The NCDC must continue to emphasize public education on preventive measures, early symptom recognition, and swift reporting to curb any potential spread.
Compiled by Kosisochukwu Kingsley