Category Metro

Partnership
By Emmanuella Anokam
Abuja, March 27, 2019 (NAN) The Convener of Abuja International Housing Show (AIHS), Mr Festus Adebayo, has expressed his commitment to partner with the 9th National Assembly in enacting Housing laws to enhance investment in the sector.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, Adebayo, who is also the Managing Director, FESADEB Media Group, said the partnership would boost the required attention for housing sector development.

“We are waiting for the inauguration of the 9th Assembly to follow up all the Housing Bills that will aid investments in the real estate and promote efficiency.

“These laws will assist the private sector and investors in the real estate sector to deliver affordable houses.

“To achieve this, we will give priority to the review of the Land Use Act where the issue of access to land can be sorted.

“If we can remove the problem of land, the problem bothering housing affordability will be reduced drastically at the level of 50 per cent,’’ he said.

On the issue of building materials, Adebayo said there were still some affordable building materials that could be used in the country to achieve affordability.

He blamed the problem of lack of infrastructure and non-access to land as major factors causing high prices in housing in the country.

According to him, lack of infrastructure and land made housing difficult because you have to access the land; you pay for the land and compensation; you construct road; provide transformer as well as primary infrastructure.

“This is the reason why affordable housing has been difficult apart from all the money the developers are also paying to Development Control for building approval and some other expenses.

“If government can do more by becoming housing-friendly, by looking for tax exemptions in the area of building materials and encourage our research institutes, it will boost the sector,’’ Adebayo said.

He noted that the problem with affordable housing was not rooted in building materials but rather rooted in cost of infrastructure and land.

FESADEB Media Group is also the producer of Housing Development Programmes on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Ray Power, TVC and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AIHS 13th International Housing Show is scheduled for July 23 to July 26, with the theme: “Driving Sustainable Housing Finance Models in the Midst of Global Uncertainties’’. (NAN)
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Edited by Yahaya Isah/Adeleye Ajayi

Allowances
By Jacinta Nwachukwu /Uche Bibilari
Abuja, March 27, 2019 (NAN) The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is up-to-date with payment of stipends, books and in-training allowances to Niger Delta ex-militants.

Mr Murphy Ganagana, Special Assistant Media to the Coordinator, PAP, Prof. Charles Dokubo, made this known in an  interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while responding to claims by some people that the Amnesty office owed.

Ganagana said that the payment of allowances to the beneficiaries have been regular and prompt ever since the present leadership took over the management of the Amnesty programme.

“As we speak today, we are not owing ex-agitators under the Amnesty programme any stipends, in-training  or books allowances,. We have paid up-to -date as funds are being released.

“We are also not owing in-training allowances to any scholarship beneficiary of the programme, especially those within the country.

Ganagana further explained that those who were claiming that the amnesty office owed them one year in backlog payments, were illegally deployed to various institutions for training without due process or the consent of the Coordinator.

He said: “in March 2018 shortly after Dokubo resumed office, some Niger Delta people who were not captured in the Amnesty programme database were illegally deployed for training without the Coordinator’s authorisation.”

“There were two categories of group of persons that were illegally deployed by a former official of the Amnesty programme within the period under review.

“Some of them were captured in the database making them bona-fide beneficiaries of the programme while some were not captured.

“But the Coordinator after some considerations decided to pay only the tuition fees of those ones who were not captured and have been given admission in various institutions for training.

He said that the legal beneficiaries were entitle to tuition fees, books and in training allowances.

“So, it is out of place for those who were illegally deployed for training to claim that they are being owed allowances.

He, however, said that the amnesty programme has the mandate to training, reintegrate and empower 30,000 ex-agitators of the Niger Delta region so as to maintain peace in the region. (NAN)
JIN/UU/AAB/SH
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edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Sadiya Hamza

Weather Forecast: NiMet pledges timely accurate information – Mashi

Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, March 26, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has expressed its readiness to provide timely, accurate and reliable weather information, to end users in various sectors of Nigerian economy.

Prof. Sani Mashi, Director General NiMet made the pledge at a stakeholders’ workshop, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the workshop was:  ‘’How to Support Users’ Understanding and Use of Weather Forecast Services in Nigeria’’.

NAN also reports that the Director General was represented by Mr Reuben Jigah, Director of Finance and Account, NiMet.

The workshop was organised by NiMet in collaboration with University of Leeds’ Global Challenges Research Fund African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting (GDRF-African-SWIFT) Programme.

Other partners in the collaboration are: the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet).

According to the Director General of NiMET, timely weather and climate information would guide policy and decision making, as well as providing advisories to stakeholders, across all sectors for national development.

Mashi stated that NiMet’s weather and climate information helped to reduce losses, arising from extreme weather condition, especially in agricultural sector.

He added that such information would also help the users to take advantage of favourable weather conditions, to achieve more efficient and effective implementation of programmes and projects.

According to him, empirical evidence shows that the proper application of agro-meteorological information to farming, is capable of increasing crop-yield, by up to 35 percent.

“Available rainfall data from the NiMet Synoptic stations clearly indicate that there have been great fluctuations in rainfall received in the different parts of the country, since the beginning of this century.

“The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, under the direction of the Ministry of (Aviation), is committed to providing timely, accurate and reliable weather and climate information, in order to guide policy and decision making.

“it also provides weather and climate advisories to our stakeholders, across all sectors of national endeavors that contribute to the development of our dear nation.

“We do this in fulfillment of the mandates of the agency, as contained in its Establishment Act of 2003,’’ he said.

NiMet boss said that Nigeria lost approximately 350,999 hectares of land, to drought and desertification annually, threatening the livelihood of millions of people, especially famers.

He added that increasing frequencies of coastal flood and storm surge, had taken over the coastline at the rate of 30 to 40m of land annually.

According to him, such losses to extreme weather phenomena could be minimised by using early warning information, such as NiMet’s Seasonal Rainfall Prediction.

He also urged the participants to take full advantage of the workshop, to enhance the dissemination of weather and climate information to the end users.

Mr Bernard Gomez, WMO’s Representative for North, Central and West Africa, said that there was need to improve on the speed and timeliness of the dissemination of weather information to the end users.

Gomez said that the core function of meteorological and hydrological services; was saving lives and properties, saying that a good percentage of people never got the warning.

According to him, a good forecast is not good, if it is not timely delivered and it is the duty of the national meteorological and hydrological services to reach out to them.

“I therefore wish to urge all stakeholders here present, to work closely in implementing this project as its success will enhance the implementation of the national weather and climate service in Nigeria.

“I also urge the media to help NiMet to transmit the information in a language that would be easy to understand, to the public, to enable them understand the warnings and take proactive measures,’’ he said.

Dr Lorraine Youds, Programme Manager, GCRF African SWIFT, said that the focus of the workshop was to think about how to communicate the information produced by NiMet, to the end users.

Youds, who commended NiMet, for its level of expertise, said the organisation had been working with three tropical African countries, such as Senegal and Kenya. (NAN)
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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Felix Ajide

ICPC establishes 400 student clubs nationwide

ICPC

By Bukola Adewumi/ Okeoghene Akubuike

Abuja, March 26,2019 (NAN) The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has established over 400 ICPC Student Clubs nationwide to build strong morals in students to enable them to abhor corruption.

Mrs Ese Okworg, an official of the commission, made this known in Suleja at the inauguration of the ICPC Student Club at the Bishop James Yisa Memorial School Kwanba, Suleja on Monday.

She said the aim of establishing ICPC student clubs in schools was to encourage students from young age to build in themselves strong morals that could resist corruption at all time.

The ICPC official said that the commission was interested in children because they were the future and well being of the nation.

She urged them to take their chance and stand against corruption by resisting, rejecting and reporting the vice.

Mr Samuel Emenogu, a member of the Accountability Lab, said that the future of the nation depended on the honesty and moral principles that would be displayed by students.

Emenogu also advised students to be ambassadors of integrity by effecting changes in their surroundings and shunning corruption.

Mrs Ofuloe Adewumi, the Principal of the school, said it was good to instill in the youths, values of honesty and integrity from early days, knowing that they were the leaders of tomorrow.

She urged the students to pay attention to what was being taught and ensure they made good use of it, stressing that it would benefit them now and in the future

BOL/OKE/EMO
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Edited by Ejike Obeta

Ports
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Abuja, March 25, 2019 (NAN) The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr  Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the streamlining of Nigerian police operations at all the ports for speedy cargo clearance and improved efficiency.

The order followed Adamu’s meeting with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Malam Hassan Bello at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

“Towards this end, directives aimed at streamlining police operations in and around Ports Terminals have been given to the Maritime Police Command and other formations.

“The directives reinforce the mandate of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Maritime) and the commissioners of police in-charge of the responsibility for police operations at all ports across the country.

“No other Police Formations, Commands, Units or Teams by any designation are authorized to undertake any operation or investigation in and around any Nigerian Ports Terminals.

“Any operations must be with the knowledge, written authorization and active involvement of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Maritime) or the commissioners of Police in-charge of the Western and Eastern Ports Authority as the case may be,” he said.

The acting I-G also pointed out that the stoppage of containers to clearing agents by different units in the police has also been harmonized.

He stated that such orders would henceforth be routed through the office of the AIG (Maritime) to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for execution.

“The implication of this order is that the Maritime Police Command is to work in conjunction with the Shippers’ Council to ensure the actualisation of the IGP’s order.” (NAN)
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Cooperation
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, March 25, 2019 (NAN) Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines, has pledged full and transparent cooperation in the ongoing investigation to unravel the cause of clash of its B737 Max Airplane on March 10.

GabreMariam made the pledge in a statement on Monday in Addis Ababa and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He explained that the investigation of the accident was well underway towards unraveling the truth, saying he did not want to speculate as to the cause at this point in time.

“As it is well known in our global aviation industry, the differences training between the B-737 NG and the B-737 MAX recommended by Boeing and approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration called for computer-based training, but we went beyond that.

“After the Lion Air accident in October, our pilots who fly the Boeing 737 Max 8 were fully trained on the service bulletin issued by Boeing and the Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by the USA FAA.

“Among the seven Full Flight Simulators that we own and operate, two of them are for B-737 NG and the B-737 MAX. We are the only airline in Africa among the very few in the world with the B-737 MAX full flight Simulator.

“Contrary to some media reports, our pilots who fly the new model were trained on all appropriate simulators as the crews were well trained on this aircraft.

GabreMariam said that Ethiopian Airlines decided to ground its fleet of Max8s immediately after the crash, owing to the similarity with the Lion Air Accident in October 2018.

He added that the plane had been grounded around the world within days, saying until answers were provided, putting one more life at risk was too much.

“It has been more than two weeks since the tragic crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.

“The heartbreak for the families of the passengers and crew who perished will be lasting and this has forever changed their lives, and we at Ethiopian Airlines will feel the pain forever.

“We pledge to work with Boeing and our colleagues in all the airlines to make air travel even safer,” he said.

Ethiopian Airlines boss said the carrier believes in Boeing which had been its partner for many years, adding that more than two-thirds of its fleet is Boeing.

According to him, ET is the first African airline to fly the B767, 757, 777-200LR, and the second nation in the world after Japan to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner. (NAN)
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Repentance
By Emmanuella Anokam
Abuja, March 24, 2019 (NAN) Rev. Fr. Francis Odigbo, Parish Priest, Christ the King Catholic Church, Kurudu, Abuja has urged Christians to utilise the Lenten period to seek repentance and absolution of sins to be fruitful and progressive.

Odigbo made the call on Sunday while delivering a homily during a Holy Mass at Saint Joseph Mukasa Catholic Church, Gidan Mangoro, Abuja.

Odigbo said that inspite of sin, the Almighty God always gave man the privilege or chance to seek for repentance, adding that such privilege should not be abused.

He said that sinning could be described as a total failure to bear good fruit according to “our talents and possibilities.”

He further called on christians to turn from sin and bear fruit in the parable of the ‘Unfruitful Fig Tree’ in the Holy Bible, Luke 13:1-5 and verse 6-9.

Odigbo explained that there were so much expectations from Christians to live upright and fruitful in the society at large as being expected from the Fig Tree that refused to bear tree in the Holy Bible.

He quoted Luke chapter 13 verse nine saying ” then if the tree bear figs next year, so much the better, if not, then you can have it cut down.

“God is waiting for our good deeds and is very patient. God keeps on coming into our lives, looking for fruit and when he doesn’t find any, he keeps on giving us more opportunities and time.

“We should seize the opportunity given by the Lent to turn back to God who is ever ready to forgive and accept us back,” he said.

According to him, Christians should endeavour to live exemplary lifestyles free from sins and focus on how best to help one another to have a better life. (NAN)

ELLA/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Tariff
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Abuja, March 24, 2019 (NAN) Exporters in the Airfreight business in Abuja has called on the Federal Government to slash quarantine tariff on farm produce to increase exports of agricultural product in the country.

Some of them who spoke in an interview on Sunday in Abuja said that these tariffs have pushed a lot of members out of business.

They attributed the outrageous quarantine tariff under the Ministry of Agriculture as a major factor hampering the exports business.

They noted that the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), is responsible for issuing clearance for agro exports/imports, issuance of certificate for the passage of agricultural plant products into or out of the country.

Mr Sunday Akintunde, the Chairman of the Airfreight forum said that the cost of exporting in Nigeria was too high which discourages exporters.

He said that exporters prefer to carry their goods to Ghana and export it with Ghana label to other part of the world thereby growing Ghana economy.

“We have a lot of challenges, one of it is the cost of exporting cargo and any business man that wants to do business has an interest which is return on investment.

“Why are we having this issue? We are having this issue because of bureaucracy; we have issues with government agencies, inspection agencies like those in charge of issuing form CCI (Certificate of Capital Importation)

“Government needs to review their policies, there are a lot of bottlenecks, the world is changing, so much time is wasted on Manuel documentation.“

Mr Lanre Akerekan, from National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said that quarantine services charges N5,000 per kilo of any farm produce which was outrageous.

“The major goods that is exported out of Nigeria, majority of them are foodstuffs which is being regulated by quarantine service but their tariff now, one kilo is N5000 and you have a weight of 200kg, if you multiple that N5000 by 200kg how much will it give you?

“`The whole 200kg will not cost you more than 20,000 from the market especially in the case of yam, how much will you pay to now clear it.

”This alone is one of the major challenges discouraging farmers from going into export business because you will end up paying so much charges without profit,” he said.

Mr Maaruf Idris, a Shea butter exporter said that the major challenge exporters are facing is the high cost of operation due to logistics, tariff and the delay in getting the necessary documentation in due time.

He said that before an exporter finish with all the certification from the various agencies, some of the goods are already getting bad.

“The major issue we are facing is logistics because there is a lot of issue from moving the product from the villages; security is part of the challenges.

“We are getting delay from certification and issues with document; it takes longer than necessary from National Export Promotion Council. Government needs to look into the issue of the charges and also review those policies causing bottleneck. “

Responding to these issues, The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, said that the council was working with all relevant stakeholders in the sector to address these challenges.

He said the main objective of the council was to fast track clearance of cargoes and ensures adequate storage of cargoes and perishable items, to attract more exporters into the business.

“We have to take into consideration the cost of cargo, some costs are not justified, they are not tied to service and that is what we have been calling for. The shipping companies have been very understanding; we have gone through all the cost so that we can have a template.

“We are not going to control cost but we will not allow arbitrary charges in the Nigerian port industry in the course of clearing cargoes.”

According to him, NSC as a regulatory body will ensure that export activities is streamlined and charges reduced to enhance international trade. (NAN)
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Rerun

By Veronica Dariya

Bwari (Abuja), March, 23, 2019 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday declared Mr Shekwogaza Gabaya of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of Bwari Area Council Chairmanship Election.

Prof. Mohammed Umaru, the Returning/Collation Officer for the council’s supplementary elections announced that Gabaya of PDP polled a total of 31,114 votes, and therefore declared him winner.

He said ” Shekwogaza Gabaya of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

He also said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Musa Dikko, scored a total of 24,137 votes, while Mr Haruna Mohammed of the People’s Trust (PT) party scored 1, 458 to come third place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supplementary elections was conducted in four wards of the council, namely Igu, Kubwa, Duste and Kawu Wards. (NAN)

DVK/JTJ

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Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Health
Abuja, March 23, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Abuja Zonal office, on Saturday, held its maiden edition of health walk to enhance work productivity, fitness and performance among staff members.

The maiden edition of the health walk took place at Maitama in Abuja.

Mr Ali Indabawa, Director, Abuja Zonal Office, said that the exercise would be carried out in all the zones to help ease stress, improve mental wellness and get people out of depression.

He said that the health walk would improve staff relationship and also their wellbeing with the core objectives of promoting commitment, accountability, professionalism, integrity, team work, excellence, leadership and discipline.

According to him, the health walk is staff coming together as a team and engage in exercise to enhance physical fitness and general wellness of the body.

“We all know that exercise is very important, which will help us work together and play together, to enhance productivity in the work environment.

“This is the first time we are having this physical fitness and we intend to continue; it’s important and we intend to write to the management to approve that we can be having it monthly, it brings us together to relate better,” he said.

However, Dr Kiran Kumar, Specialist and Adjunct Clinical Tutor, Thumbay Hospital, New Delhi, said that the hospital was partnering with NIMASA to improve staff wellbeing.

He said that non-communicable disease was on the increase in Nigeria because of the poor health lifestyle of the people, which must be addressed.

“We are partnering with NIMASA to raise awareness about health and well-being, if you look at the health challenges in Nigeria, we have increase in rate of non-communicable diseases, such as heart diseases and kidney diseases.

“However, the reason for this is the increase in diabetes and body cholesterol because of the type of health lifestyle we are living,

“Our partnership is to screen for high blood pressure and blood sugar,” he said.(NAN)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Felix Ajide