All 41 Indian Workers Trapped In Tunnel For 17 Days Rescued

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All 41 Indian Workers Trapped In Tunnel For 17 Days Rescued

Relatives outside celebrated, after previous hopes of reaching the men were repeatedly dashed by falling debris and the breakdown of multiple drilling machines, in a rescue operation the government said took place in "challenging Himalayan terrain".

Indian workers were greeted with wild cheers and flower garlands Tuesday as rescuers safely brought out all 41 from the collapsed Himalayan road tunnel where they were trapped after a marathon 17-day engineering operation.

With beaming smiles, the rescued men were welcomed as heroes after being hauled through 57 metres (187 feet) of steel pipe on stretchers specially fitted with wheels, where they were greeted by state officials before embracing their families.

“Hail mother India!” crowds outside the tunnel cheered, as news spread that all had made it safely out of the under-construction tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where they had been incarcerated since a partial collapse on November 12.

Relatives outside celebrated, after previous hopes of reaching the men were repeatedly dashed by falling debris and the breakdown of multiple drilling machines, in a rescue operation the government said took place in “challenging Himalayan terrain”.

“We are thankful to God and the rescuers who worked hard to save them,” Naiyer Ahmad told AFP, whose younger brother Sabah Ahmad was among the trapped workers, and who had been camping out in bitterly cold temperatures at the site for over two weeks.

“We are extremely happy, no words can explain it,” said Musarrat Jahan, the wife of one rescued worker Sabah Ahmad told AFP by phone from Bihar state, where she had been waiting desperately for news.

“Not only my husband got a new life, we also got a new life. We will never forget it”.

 ‘Now to Celebrate’ 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the workers in a statement that their “courage and patience is inspiring everyone”.

“Patience, hard work and faith won”, said Uttarakhand state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, praising the “prayers of tens of millions of countrymen and the tireless work of all the rescue teams.”

The health of the workers was “fine”, with a team of medics in a field hospital assessing them as soon as they were brought out, Dhami added.

Guriya Devi, wife of rescued worker Sushil Kumar, said she had been praying ever since the tunnel collapsed.

“We passed through horrible times, and sometimes we lost hope — but ultimately the time has come to now celebrate”.

Munnilal Kishku, father of freed worker Birendar Kishku, said they had not celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, because it had happened the same time as the tunnel collapsed. “We will celebrate it when he reaches the village,” he said.

After repeated setbacks in the operation, military engineers and skilled miners dug the final section by hand using a so-called “rat-hole” technique, a three-person team working at the rock face inside a metal pipe, just wide enough for someone to squeeze through.

 ‘Effort and Sacrifice’

Indian billionaire Anand Mahindra paid tribute to the men at the rock face who squeezed into the narrow pipe to clear the rocks by hand.

“After all the sophisticated drilling equipment, it’s the humble ‘rathole miners’ who make the vital breakthrough,” Mahindra said on X, formerly Twitter.

“It’s a heartwarming reminder that at the end of the day, heroism is most often a case of individual effort and sacrifice.”

Last week, engineers working to drive a metal pipe horizontally through the earth ran into metal girders and construction vehicles buried in the rubble, snapping a giant earth-boring machine.

A separate vertical shaft was also started from the forested hill above the tunnel, as well as from the far side of the road tunnel, a much longer route estimated to be around 480 metres.

Before Tuesday, the workers were seen alive for the first time last week, peering into the lens of an endoscopic camera sent by rescuers down a thin pipe through which air, food, water and electricity were delivered.

Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, who had been advising the engineers, told reporters ahead of the rescue that the men were in good spirits, and that he had heard they had been “playing cricket”.

Ronaldo Tells Ref To Overturn Penalty He Won In AFC Champions League

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Ronaldo Tells Ref To Overturn Penalty He Won In AFC Champions League

Ronaldo leapt to his feet and approached the referee, wagging his finger, shaking his head and telling him there had been no foul.

Cristiano Ronaldo convinced the referee to change his mind after awarding him a penalty in Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League 0-0 draw with Iran’s Persepolis.

The 38-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid great appeared to have been brought down by Soroush Rafiei inside the box and Chinese referee Ma Ning pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo leapt to his feet and approached the referee, wagging his finger, shaking his head and telling him there had been no foul.

After consulting VAR, the referee was sent to the pitch-side monitor and reversed his decision in the Group E clash in Riyadh.

The Saudi Pro League side had to play most of the match with 10 men after Ali Lajami was given a straight red card for a shin-raking challenge in the 17th minute.

They also lost Ronaldo to a neck injury with 13 minutes remaining, caused by Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand landing on the Portuguese star when claiming a high ball.

But the 2018 and 2020 Champions League runners-up from Iran were unable to capitalise, the point proving enough for Al Nassr to seal their place in the knockout stages as group winners.

Ronaldo has little time to recover with Al Nassr facing Al Hilal on Friday in a top-of-the-table league clash.

Al Ittihad On Course

Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad are two points clear at the top of Group C after a 2-1 win at Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC.

Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah scored twice in four first-half minutes before Martin Boakye pulled one back for the hosts with 12 minutes remaining.

Two-time winners Al Ittihad, under new manager Marcelo Gallardo, need to avoid defeat at home to second-placed Sepahan in the final round of matches next week to go through as group winners.

The Iranian side defeated Iraq’s Air Force Club 1-0 at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, despite having two players sent off.

Sepahan’s Farshad Ahmadzadeh scored the only goal from close range in the fourth minute before Mohammad Hosseinnezhad was sent off just before half-time.

Hadi Mohammadi was then red-carded on 90 minutes forcing Sepahan to hold out with nine men for 12 minutes of added time under an Air Force bombardment to secure the three points.

Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi moved top of Group B with a 3-1 win at home to Jordan’s Al Faisaly, and Qatari side Al Sadd kept their hopes alive by beating Sharjah 2-0 in the UAE.

Nasaf are top on 10 points ahead of their final match against Al Sadd, who are third on seven points with Sharjah, who face a trip to Al Faisaly, second on eight.

The group stage this year returned to a home-and-away group format for the first time since 2020 and expanded to 40 teams.

It rounds off in the West Zone next week with the five winners from Groups A to E and three best runners-up going through to the last 16 in February.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the final two rounds of East Zone matches kick off to decide the other eight teams in the last 16 from Groups F to J.

The quarter-finals will be played in March, the semi-finals in April, with the two-legged final in May.

 

Tinubu Seeks for Reps' Endorsement For $8.6bn, €100m External Borrowing

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Tinubu Seeks for Reps' Endorsement For $8.6bn, €100m External Borrowing 

The President additionally sent the Federal Capital Territory Strengthening Budget to House for Consideration.

  

President Bola Tinubu has written the House of Representatives seeking the approval of the green chamber for $8.6bn and €100m external borrowing plan for critical infrastructure in areas such as power, roads, water, railway, and health.

The President also forwarded the Federal Capital Territory Supplementary Budget to House for consideration.

Meanwhile, the President will present the 2024 budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday. This was after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion.

The approval followed the review of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) earlier passed by the National Assembly which benchmarked the exchange rate at N700 to $1 and crude oil price at $73.96 cent per barrel.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, told reporters at the State House on Monday that FEC revised the MTEF and the Fiscal Policy to use an exchange rate of N750 to $1 and also a benchmark crude oil reference price of $77.96 per barrel.

According to Bagudu, the FEC also approved an Appropriation Bill for 2024 with an aggregate expenditure of N27.5 trillion, an increase of over N1.5 trillion from the previously estimated.

Appeal Court Affirms Fubara As Rivers Gov, Dismisses Cole, Others’ Suit

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Appeal Court Affirms Fubara As Rivers Gov, Dismisses Cole, Others’ Suit

The court held that Cole and the other appellants failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

An Appeal court sitting in Lagos has affirmed the election of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed the judgment of the election tribunal, dismissing four separate appeals filed by Tonye Cole of All Progressives Congress (APC), Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party (LP), Innocent Ekwu of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Lulu Briggs Dumo of the Accord Party.

The APC candidate, who was present in the courtroom on Tuesday, wanted the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare him the winner of the March governorship election in Rivers.

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in October dismissed the petition of Cole challenging the election of Fubara as the governor of the state.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition saying that the APC that sponsored Cole had withdrawn the petition against Fubara’s victory.

Not satisfied with the Tribunal’s victory, the APC candidate approached the appellate court. However, the court on Tuesday affirmed the Tribunal ruling which earlier upheld Fubara’s electoral victory in October.

Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi (absent), Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe

and Justice Bature Isa Gafa, held that the fact that APC seized to be a party to the case did not make Cole’s petition invalid. The judges concluded that the Tribunal was in error to have struck out that item of the petition.

“A political party cannot compel a candidate to withdraw a petition neither can a candidate compel the party to withdraw.” Justice Adegbehingbe ruled.

However, on the other grounds, the court held that the appellants’ evidence were inadequate in proving the allegations of over-voting, disenfranchisement and other alleged irregularities.

The grounds bordering on fraud and whether Fubara was qualified to have contested the election were struck out based on unconvincing evidence. Cole cited allegations of irregularities and Fubara’s continued signing of documents as the State’s Accountant-General after his PDP nomination.

The court held that all the appellants failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

In his immediate reaction, Cole said the appellate court’s judgment has given him and his legal team a greenlight, and that will determine their next line of action.

Source: Channel TV

Accessprenuer: Over 50 Corps members win Access Bank Business Empowerment Grants across Nigeria

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Accessprenuer: Over 50 Corps members win Access Bank Business Empowerment Grants across Nigeria

Access Bank Plc has rewarded and empowered corps members through the Access Bank Accessprenuer competition in collaboration with the NYSC.  

A total of 54 corps members emerged as beneficiaries on Thursday, at the FCT Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Ebony, Enugu, Benue and Rivers states where the competition took place simultaneously. 

A total of N15,250,000 was given out to corps members with exceptional entrepreneurial ideas across the country.

The overall winners were awarded N1 million each while the first runner-ups and second runner-ups were rewarded with N700,000 and N400,000 respectively.

Other Corp members who participated in the competition were also rewarded with consolation prizes ranging from N200,000 to N50,000. 

Adaeze Ume, Unit Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, who spoke at the event said the Accessprenuer initiative was  introduced to encourage and reward National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were young entrepreneurs with feasible dreams and business goals.  

“At Access Bank, in line with our sustainability ethos, we are committed to improving the lives of people, and supporting the growth and development of our host communities, as such we have partnered with the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (NYSC-SAED) to encourage young and emerging entrepreneurs. 

“Our partnership with the NYSC-SAED, would help facilitate the training and mentoring of Nigerian youths in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development for self-reliance.  

“As an institution, we understand the role that young people play in the community and the nation, and we are committed to supporting their aspirations. We believe that the youths represent the future and hope of our nation, and we will do all we can to support their innovative ideas. 

” Research has shown that lack of access to finance is one of the major reasons why businesses fail, particularly start-ups. We have decided to solve this problem by supporting some young entrepreneurs here today with finance to fund their business ideas through the Access Bank All4One scheme. 

“We hope that through this financial support and mentorship program, the winners and beneficiaries of Accessprenuer competition can run profitable businesses and through the implementation of their innovative ideas, positively impact lives and ultimately the economy, she said. 

 

Obasi Favour Onyinyechi emerged as the winner of the grand prize of N1,000,000 at the FCT Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa. Meanwhile, Awe Rebecca emerged as the first runner clinching the second prize of N700,000  

Obasi who was visibly excited noted that with the grant her business dream was on its way to becoming a palpable reality, and she thanked Access Bank Plc for changing her life on the go via the initiative. She noted that the grant would expedite the growth process of her fish farming business by getting a good number of healthy fingerlings, feeds, and treatments for them.  

The Accessprenuer empowerment scheme by Access Bank Plc has over the years empowered thousands of Nigeria corps members, granting impetus and vitality to kickstart business dreams in the embryo and expand those that have already begun operations.  

So far, the Accessprenuer competition has impacted over 400 corps members with over N200 million in seed capital.

They also created a Facebook community for all Accessprenuer winners to be able to interact freely amongst themselves and inspire other young people with similar aspirations. The Facebook community has about 5,000 members. 

 

NERC: Halting estimated billing in Nigeria is possible when customers are absent

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NERC: Halting estimated billing in Nigeria is possible when customers are absent 

Estimated billing can be halted if customers are not around. This was said by NERC officials during the November 27 capacity strengthening session for distribution companies (DisCos) on communication and responsiveness to customers, which was organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). 

According to NERC, many estimated billing customers are not aware that there is a regulation that requires them to inform their DisCo when they will not be around so that their billing can be halted during that period of their absence as their electricity is not in use.  

Although many estimated billing customers may not be aware of the regulation highlighted, there are some customers’ rights highlighted by NERC via their official website, which point to sensible billing by DisCos on estimated billing customers across the country.  

According to NERC, all new electricity connections must have meters installed before being connected.

They are entitled to a safe and reliable electricity supply and the installation of a properly functioning meter.  

The Commission also insists that customers should be informed and educated about their electricity service, with transparent billing applied to all and un-metered customers should receive bills based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology.  

According to NERC, written notice is mandatory before any disconnection, and customers have the right to refunds if overbilled, meanwhile, complaints about electricity supply or billing can be directed to the nearest DisCo business unit for prompt investigation.  

If unsatisfied, customers can escalate issues to the NERC Forum Office or appeal decisions by petitioning the Commission.

NERC says that customers can contest incorrect electricity bills and in disputes over bills, un-metered customers are not obliged to pay the disputed amount but only the last undisputed bill while the issue undergoes NERC’s dispute resolution process.  

The Commission also points out that customers or communities are not responsible for purchasing, replacing, or repairing electricity infrastructure like transformers or poles used in the supply process. 

However, it is important to note that several customers who spoke to Nairametrics reveal that settling complaints regarding estimated billing charges and payments is a herculean task as DisCos are putting a lot of customers under undue pressure by refusing to resolve complaints or implement regulatory directives as stipulated by NERC yet face no consequences.  

Imoh Heavens, a resident of Akwa Ibom state, shared his experience as a customer with the Port Harcourt Distribution Company (DisCo). He expressed to Nairametrics that DisCo charges un-metered customer rates exceeding the price cap, regardless of the circumstances.  

This situation has caused considerable concern among residents who are already grappling with challenging economic conditions.

Despite their complaints, there hasn’t been any relief or resolution to alleviate their financial burdens. 

Glo hosts stakeholders to evening of razzmatazz as Asake, Chike, Gordons, others thrill

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Glo hosts stakeholders to evening of razzmatazz as Asake, Chike, Gordons, others thrill

Digital and telecommunications services company, Globacom, on Saturday, November 25, hosted captains of industry, high networth customers and business associates, to an exquisite event at Eko Hotels & Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos, tagged ‘An Evening with Glo”.

At the event, the company’s new communication direction, “Powering Your Ambition”, was formally unveiled. The campaign showcases the preparedness and capability of Globacom to support businesses and individuals with the right tools and services to enable them to set ambitious personal and business targets and realize them to the full.

Executive Vice Chairman of Globacom, Mrs Bella Disu, paid tribute to Glo subscribers, partners, stakeholders and all those who have been with the company every step of the way for their support since inception. “Your contributions have been essential to Globacom’s success story over the past two decades, and our story would be incomplete without you. This event is special for many reasons, one being that Globacom celebrated its 20th anniversary this past August. We’re incredibly proud of this feat, which symbolises two decades of our commitment to excellent service delivery, quality, innovation, and outstanding communication strategies. This remarkable journey and the heights we’ve reached are all thanks to the visionary leadership and tenacity of our founder and Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr.”, she stated.

L-R: Chief Technical officer, Roll Out, Globacom, Mr. Remi Makinde; Director of Customer Care, Catherine Bomett, Executive Vice Chairman, Globacom, Mrs Bella Disu, and Managing Director, Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Chris Lu, at “An Evening with Glo” event held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on Saturday.

Mrs Disu noted that the current pace of digital transformation was far quicker than what it was when Globacom started. “What was once deemed impossible is now the norm. As a digital solutions provider, we embrace these unlimited opportunities to serve our customers by constantly investing in the latest tools and technology.

She explained that the new communication direction focuses more on powering and driving ambition, while ensuring success for Glo’s existing and future customers and commended the Marketing Communications team for the creatives. She added, however, that “The creative genius steering us and whipping up most of these ideas is none other than the great guru himself, our Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. I’m not sure he would have wanted me to share that, but after 20 years of his creative direction, I think it’s fair to let the cat out of the bag!

“We are excited about the next 20 years of serving our customers by pre-empting and fulfilling their needs in ways that help them achieve their ambitions. We count on you all to be by our side as we write tomorrow’s success stories”, Mrs Disu concluded.

Showcasing the new commercials for the company’s new communication direction, Globacom said that every new business innovation, product and service the company deploy brings its customers one step closer to their goals, “‘Powering Ambition’ is much more than just a proposition, describing it as a promise which has seen Globacom partnering with its customers in delivering cutting edge digital transformation of their businesses and innovative ideas”.

“We amplify the voice and entrepreneurial spirit of that business start-up via Glo SME in A Box. We also accelerate the pace of that next tech giant and strengthen that already accomplished local businessman”. The company said.

According to Globacom, “Nigeria’s Unlimited Potential is forged in the Ambition of the Nigerian Spirit, it is only right that Nigeria’s one and only Unlimited Network is at the heart and forefront of Powering the Ambition of our great nation. Your ambition is Nigeria’s greatest resource, and we’re here to power it, so that it catapults us all from the realm of ideas into the plane of reality”.

This we achieve through our diverse enterprise and e-commerce offers, with super high way access to the internet via our high capacity Submarine Cable to the UK and an extensive national fibre optic backbone infrastructure, LTE advanced ultra high-speed streaming quality experience and huge investments in constantly ugrading our network.

It was also an evening of fun and entertainment with award-winning comedian, Godwin Komone (Gordons), anchoring the show which was attended by captains of industry, business executives, government officials, entertainment stars and Nollywood legends. There were also performances by master saxophonist Yemi Sax, humour merchant, Arinze Baba, and tap dancers from South Africa who all ensured it was an all-round fun for guests who filled the venue to the brim.

The climax of the show was the electrifying performances by Glo ambassadors and music stars, Asake and Chike. They had the audience on their feet, signing along with the artistes and dancing into the early hours of Sunday to Chike’s “Osondi Owendi”, “If you no love”, and “Roju” as well as “Sungba “Joha” by Asake.

Asake could have felt anything but lonely on the night as his hit track “Lonely at the top” sent the audience into wild ecstasy as many surged forward to show him love as he literally brought down the roof with his performance.

Earlier, Globacom hosted the media at a press conference held at the company’s headquarters, Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos where it expressed gratitude to the media for its massive support in the last two decades.

The company’s outstanding contributions to the nation’s telecoms industry since its rolled out services in 2003 was clearly showcased, thus setting the tone for another achievement-filled decade, as the digital services company marches confidently towards its 30th anniversary.