By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Government has inaugurated 25 housing units in Kuje and performed groundbreaking for developing an additional 130 units at the Aviation Village both in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The completed houses project, a partnership between the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Abiskoly Housing Estate for the National Human Rights Commission Cooperative Society is located in Kuje.

While the groundbreaking ceremony for 130 three bedroom Terrace duplexes was done for FMBN Staff Cooperative Estate located at Aviation village off Airport Road Abuja and being developed by Mshel Homes Limited.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, while inaugurating the project said the houses would stimulate economic growth and contribution to nation building.

I want to use this opportunity to thank the Federal Government, and President Muhammadu Buhari for financing and encouraging real estate developers to be able to develop estates like this.

I must also thank the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, for what you are doing, when you do this you are contributing to nation building, this will stimulate economic growth now people will start coming here and when they move here other people who dont live here will start coming.

This will also make people home owners, people who cannot even afford to build a house but this will give them hope and I can assure you that the government will continue to encourage people like you who want to build homes for the people.

In the same vein, the Managing Director, FMBN, Mr Madu Hamman, said the phase one which was completed for commissioning was 25 housing units while 35 units would be delivered in the next phase.

He said that In the past few weeks the bank had been commissioning several residential houses in eight states across the country under the banks housing delivery initiative, developed in collaboration with the labour unions.

And, we have several others also completed under this scheme that will be commissioned in due course across the countrys geopolitical zones.

In this giant strive we are making in an effort to reduce the national housing deficit and also employ Nigerians in all areas of home ownership.

The commissioning of this estate today is another landmark event to showcase housing ownership initiative of the bank which is the FMBN cooperative society development housing scheme.

Under this scheme, we fund housing construction for housing cooperative society members, and acquisition of these houses when developed by their members who are regular contributors to the housing funds loan.

In our own way at the FMBN, we are committed to ensure that Nigerians have access to decent and secure accommodation through affordable mortgage financing especially Nigerians who have limited opportunities.

Hamman said there was no state in Nigeria today that did not have at least one or two FMBN sponsored Estate.

He added that FMBN had also continued to develop affordable market products and housing development schemes in its effort to exploit all angles and to facilitate mortgage lending and home ownership to Nigerians.

The Chairman Board of Directors FMBN, Mr Ayodeji Ariyo, said the approval and disbursement of the loan for the project was an indication of the Banks desire to empower Nigerians homeownership via affordable home mortgage financing.

Ayodeji who was represented by Non-executive Director, Mrs Nkechi Ejezie, said the project was a confirmation of the Banks commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of National Housing Fund (NHF) contributors.

It is therefore a thing of joy for us at FMBN to be associated with todays event and the Abiskoly Nigeria Limited, the developer of this estate.

I have no doubt that this project will go a long way in ameliorating the housing needs of members of the subscribers to this estate who are the staff of Human Rights Commission and contributing to the NHF.

Earlier, speaking at the groundbreaking of the 130 three bedroom terrace duplexes in the Aviation Village, President of Multi-purpose Cooperative Society FMBN, Mr Muhammad Lawal, said the idea to build a functional estate had been a priority of the cooperative.

When we came on board, our desire was to develop an estate which will project a good image of the bank, provide a decent shelter for our members and set a good example for other developers to emulate.

N1, 949,805,642.87 was approved as loan by the current Management in favour of FMBN Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited under the Cooperative Housing Development Loan Window, for the of 130 units of 3bedroom terrace duplex with infrastructure.

Our developer has fully mobilised; construction work is going on in strict compliance with engineering standard.

In three months after the commencement of this project, we have received over 600 names of interested beneficiaries, mainly FMBN Staff and many others from government agencies such as the CBN, he said.

Lawal, however, appealed to the management of FMBN to consider and approve the phase 2 of the project to construct another 200 housing units to accommodate more citizens.

Both developers were commended FMBN for the opportunity and privilege to be partners in building affordable houses for citizens and reducing the housing deficit in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 Nigerians were beneficiaries of the just commissioned houses which are in 2bedroom and 3bedroom detached bungalows.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has ordered a closure of universities across the country to enable students to participate in the 2023 general elections.

This is contained in a letter addressed to Vice-Chancellors of all universities and Directors of Inter-University Centres, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The letter was signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Christopher Maiyaki.

The NUC said that the directive was based on the directive of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Maiyaki said: As Vice-Chancellors of all universities and Director/Chief Executive of Inter-University Centres are quite aware the 2023 general elections have been scheduled to hold on Sat. Feb. 25, 2023, for the presidential and National Assembly, and Sat. March 11, 2023 for gubernatorial and State Assembly, respectively.

In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staffers, students and properties of the our respective institutions, the Minister of Education, has, following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all universities and Inter-University Centres be shut down.

And also academic activities will be suspended between Feb. 22 and March 14, 2023. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Lagos State PDP Women Leader, Alhaja Idowu Akinsanya, has commiserated with the partys deputy governorship candidate, Ms Funke Akindele, on the demise of her mother, Dr R. B. Adebanjo-Akindele.

Akinsanya in a statement said the death of the mother of the veteran Nollywood actress came as a rude shock to the women wing in the party.

According to her, the death of Akindeles mother came when she was most needed in the build-up to the elections.

We lost her at this period that all the women in Lagos needed her most, Akinsanya said.

She, however, said that Funke Akindele mothers death would not discourage the campaign toward ensuring victory for the party.

Akinsanya said that women in the party would move closer to Akindele and support her vision to give back to the women in society and the less privileged when emerged as the deputy governor.

She said that the partys governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (JANDOR) and Akindele had been working hard to make sure PDP wins the election.

Lagos women will stand firm and throw their weight behind Jandor and Funke Akindele during this crucial period.

This will not weaken their effort or deter them from the dream ahead, but rather will make them stronger and more focused, she said.

She prayed that God would grant Akindele the fortitude to bear the loss, urging all PDP members to keep praying for the partys deputy governorship candidate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adebanjo-Akindeles death was announced on Tuesday evening by Funkes sister, Olubunmi Akindele, on her Instagram page on behalf of the families of Adebanjo and Akindele. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

ICRC DG, Michael Ohiani (L) with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama (R)

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Federal Government says plans are ongoing to incorporate the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and those of all Foreign Missions into one unified portal.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Manji Yarling, the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), in Abuja on Thursday.

Yarling said the management of the unified web portal was proposed to be handled under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

She said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said this when he led a delegation to the ICRC to seek its regulatory guidance to manage the portal using a PPP model.

Yarling said the portal among other things was aimed at providing a platform for stranded Nigerians to reach out and get help.

She said the minister and his team, who were received by the Director-General of the ICRC, Michael Ohiani and other management staff, briefed the ICRC on the project.

Yarling said Onyeama also briefed the ICRC on the ministrys quest for effective management.

According to the minister, we have been looking for partners. So we are here to present our projects for you to see where there could be possibilities for cooperation.

I have been told that we can sell this to the private sector.

Yarling said the team from the ministry gave more insights and said the ministry was attempting to achieve three things with the project.

According to the team, they include Diplomatic Service Digitisation Initiative (DSDI), a Unified Website and the Nigeria Global Business Match and Citizens Help Desk.

The team said that the projects aligned with the priority of the current administration which included the creation of a harmonised platform for the ministry and its missions.

Yarling said the team explained that the Citizens Help Desk was part of the development of clear guidelines to protect Nigerians abroad.

She said the team said that the project would provide multiple platforms for citizens abroad to reach out to government officials and have their issues resolved.

Another aspect of it is the business match-making platforms to provide global jobs and opportunities to individuals and businesses in Nigeria.

The very high-level infrastructure that we will need to support this are a virtual private network, an intranet, an active directory and an electronic document management system.

With the services that we offer, we hope to achieve an integrated e-payment solution as well, the ministers team said.

According to Ohiani, a project of this nature can help in situations like the recent earthquake that happened in Turkey.

The director-general said it would provide a platform for Nigerians to easily reach out to the mission to seek help for themselves or other Nigerians.

He said the project was laudable, adding that If a private sector operative was given to manage, there would be better optimisation and technology deployment employed.

We can turn part of it into a marketplace where people can key in.
We have to find a way for it to make money so that the private sector can recoup its investment and remit some amounts to the ministry.

We can seek a way to deploy artificial intelligence into these to make the operations more seamless.

We will look at the areas that will require partial commercialisation, full commercialisation and those that we dont have to charge for, he said.

Ohiani said that the ICRC was ready to receive a business and financial model from the private sector through the ministry on how to manage the project. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu

By Segun Giwa

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has urged the electorate to vote leaders with good character to move the country forward.

Akeredolu stated this in Akure on Thursday at a programme organised by a socio- cultural and political group, The Atulunse Initiative, with the theme: Let Our Votes Count.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the topic for the event was Ethical governance: Awos legacy as a case study.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, urged the people to shun vote buying at the forthcoming elections.

It is the quality of followers that is affecting the quality of leaders, he said.

Akeredolu urged Nigerians to vote for leaders with qualities and attributes of the late, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He also enjoined Nigerians to stop celebrating those who value money over good behaviour and character.

We need to look for visionary leaders like Chief Awolowo. So, let us look at the characters of those that are contesting, whether they have the character of Chief Awolowo or not.

You can see that our governor is doing well in the state. You can see that Akeredolu has the same character with Awolowo and the development of this state is very paramount to him.

Let communal life be our priority; let us look at the characters of the candidates before we vote.

Let us vote for the candidate that is ready to provide adequate security and move this country forward, he said.

The Chairman, The Atulunse Initiative, Mr Akin Akinbobola, thanked the participants for making it to the occasion in spite of the unpleasant situations in the country.

Akinbobola said that the organisation had spread to the 36 states of the federation sensitising people on how to make their votes count.

The chairman said that a lot needed to be done to get the country on the right path, noting that there was a wide gap between the rich and the poor.

Give us education that is affordable. When those living in luxury are sick, they travel abroad, while the poor go for herbal treatment because orthodox medicine is not affordable.

Life has become unbearable for most Nigerians, why? It is because their votes dont count. All these must stop. They buy votes and people go for such.

Power is in our hands. That vote is in your hand. That is why they beg you for it. But when you sell it, they will come back and make life unrealistic.

But when you vote based on your conscience not by ethnicity or any affiliation, you will enjoy the country, he said.

The Chairman of the occasion and Chief Imam of Akure Kingdom, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Yayi-Akorede, said that the purpose of the gathering was to ensure that votes count in the forthcoming elections.

The guest lecturer, Prof. Akin Alao of Obafemi Awolowo University, said many political parties had failed to develop programmes that would create wealth and positively impact the economy.

He said, this was, unlike Awos Action Group, which attained its popularity through hard work, honesty and forthrightness. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) will ensure that no benefiting community is left behind in this years project execution.

Mr Joseph Ityav, HYPPADEC Chairman, who disclosed this on Tuesday at the HYPPADEC 9th Council meeting in Abuja, said that the project would be part of its medium-term strategic plan.

The strategic plan aimed at improving the welfare, security and development of HYPPADEC states and focussed on 10 key areas of education, healthcare, security, economy, environment, agriculture, energy, road infrastructure, water and youth empowerment.

Ityav said that projects on erosion control would be deployed to HYPPADEC states to reduce the burden of the yearly flooding in such benefiting communities.

All the projects we have set in place to carry out in this accounting year are based on the cost sector that is captured in a medium-term strategic plan.

We have been able to execute projects in almost every community of HYPPADEC and based on the plan that we have on the ground now, we will be able to take more projects to the host communities.

We have started on a good note; we have tried to take projects to every committee of HYPPADEC based on enumeration exercises that have been carried out in the past. So this ninth meeting is to strategise and make sure that every HYPPADEC community is captured in what we do, he said.

The HYPPADEC member states are Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Benue, Kogi and Plateau while Taraba, Gombe and Kaduna states have applied to be part of the commission areas.

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, HYPPADEC Managing Director, said the commission would this year give priority to erosion control and transportation infrastructure.

I think we are going to pay specific attention to erosion control, transportation and infrastructure, especially the provision of ferries and high bulk goods conveying ships along the communities.

These are some of the major challenges that the communities are facing, which we have not addressed so far, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 9th council meeting would consider reports from Policy Guideline and HPPADEC Medium and Strategic Plan as well as the Monitoring and Evaluation Committees.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Stakeholders at the Intl Human Fraternity Day Celebration in Abuja.

By Bridget Ikyado

His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has advised Nigerian leaders to promote human dignity and oneness in line with the Human Fraternity Rules to enhance peace in the country.

Onaiyekan gave the advice in a keynote address to mark the International Day of Human Fraternity.

The event, which held at the Catholic Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja, was organised by the Department of Mission and Dialogue, supported by Caritas Nigeria.

It had the theme Interfaith Relations in Nigeria; Diversity, Dynamism and Strength.

The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together is also known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

The Declaration was signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate.

The cardinal outlined 11 points which should be adopted by individuals and leaders to promote unity, peace and progress in every society.

He listed the points to include belief in the oneness of God, human dignity and equality before the law, religious diversity, and the importance of family in building a nation.

Others included care for children nurtured through marriage, and abhorrence of homosexuality in any form.

Respect of human life is absolute; abortion, mercy killing and murder are crimes and sin, Onaiyekan said.

He noted that the document was emphatic on the fact that there should be no killing in any form in the name of God, and declared that terrorists were ungodly and irreligious.

Onaiyekan said that every responsible person and leader should condemn kidnapping and other forms of terror as part of the drive to ensure a peaceful society.

The dignity of women is to be recognised and women are to be given full dignity, he said, adding that leaders should expunge laws that undermine women.

Onaiyekan also prayed for peaceful and successful elections in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had lay faithful, clergymen and other stakeholders who sued for peace and unity in the country. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

Source: NAN News

The Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello receiving award from Alhaja Kafilat Hassan, the Western Zonal Chairman

By Raji Rasak

Malam Tijani Isa, the President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), says only a government that comes to power through free and fair election can redeem the countrys economy.

Isa disclosed this during the institutes 17th Western Zonal Accountants Conference holding at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was Professional Accountants Uncertain Economy and Sustainable Development.

According to the ICAN president, a government that comes to power with a vision and has a programme to uplift the population will surely redeem the economy.

When you have a government that is based on financial or military inducement, we are not going anywhere.

I keep on saying that Nigeria is blessed with all resources to excel, but the problem we have is harnessing these resources.

We are the fifth largest suppliers of crude oil in the world, yet we cant refine sufficiently locally, our refineries are in comatose.

We need to have a leadership that has vision and focus, then we can move forward, he said.

The president said that the theme of the conference was timely and pertinent.

It avails us the platform to collectively examine our pivotal roles in sustainable development in the face of an uncertain economy.

The conference provides us with a unique opportunity to rethink our evolving roles in national development.

We are faced with the most challenging period in history, as a nation and globally.

The need for a more accountable and efficient utilisation of scarce resources has been heightened.

Isa said the New Normal was challenging the accountants as professionals to deploy their skills in charting a more robust, inclusive, and sustainable future.

He said the countrys challenges were diverse, running the gamut of high inflation, increasing debt profile, rising unemployment and underemployment, and intractable security challenges.

We must assist the nation and businesses to maximally utilise the limited resources to achieve national and organisational goals and objectives, he said.

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), said the theme was very apt at a time when the economy formed the core of the talking points in campaign conversations.

I do not possess the expertise to speak on matters of the economy as much as many of you here today do.

But I am sufficiently educated enough to understand that accountants, like many other professionals, are partly responsible for the precarious situation of our nation today, she said.

Olatunji-Bello said the accountants should play a key role in salvaging the situation.

It is also important that this conference also considers sustainable development as one of the cardinal topics.

I therefore believe that this conference is coming at a most auspicious time.

Accountants can engage in robust conversations on some of the key economic issues facing us and proffer solutions, she said.

In a paper presentation, Mr Olanrewaju Sharafa, the Associate Lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom, urged ICAN members to seek financial freedom and sustainability within their practice and professional practice.

Sharafa, also National Treasurer, Institute of Corporate And Public SectorProfessionals (ICPSP), said chartered accountants should improve the accounting profession through value adding services diversification.

He listed some of the areas ICAN members could explore to include governance and strategic services, leading innovative business idea development, tax and wealth and advisory, compliance and regulatory services, among others.

You are the future of the accounting profession, hence the need to go out there and do great things. There is nothing limiting you, he said.

Pastor Samuel Egbetokun, the Conference Chairman, said paper presenters at both plenary and workshop sessions had done their researches and prepared to disseminate to participants a body of seasoned knowledge.

I dont have any doubt in me that at the end of this conference, all of us will be loaded with adequate practical knowledge and enough skills that will make us better accountants, he said.

In her remarks, Alhaja Kafilat Hassan, the Western Zonal Chairman, urged those at the conference to maximize the opportunity of the diverse registered delegates to establish new business relationships.(NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

Youths voting during an election

By Segun Giwa

The Atulunse Initiative, a cultural socio-political pro-democracy advocacy group, says it is planning a symposium on electoral reform to educate Nigerians particularly in South-West on how to make their votes count at the forthcoming elections.

Mr Olaseni Shalom, Coordinator, Atulunse Initiatives, Nigeria, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Akure.

Shalom said that the symposium would principally highlight the challenges in electoral systems with particular regards to vote capture and reflection.

He said the symposium would hold in Akure, on Thursday with Dr Kayode Ajulo, a legal practitioner, delivering the keynote address and lecture.

The symposium is on electoral reform titled: Let Our Votes Count, and the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredelu is the Chief Host of the day, he said.

Shalom said that the Atulunse Initiative had over the years driven discourse for credible leadership as a veritable tool for social engineering.

He noted that the group was interested on the concentric benefits of evolving reliable systems and institutions to birth seamless and credible electoral processes where votes count and determine political outcomes.

This years symposium will build on the lessons and observations of the past and present to add practicable thoughts and solutions to the unique challenges in the Nigerian electoral process particularly as it affects the South-West.

The symposium will be contributing a body of literature toward influencing a policy shift in favor of the Yoruba race.

With evolving crisis in a waning sense of belonging, insecurity and political subterfuge of the Yoruba people in contemporary times, the imperative to regroup, re-think and re-strategise a stake in the unfolding theatre of modern Nigerian politics is overwhelming.

Atulunse Initiative seeks to interrogate a pathway to a legitimate leadership post 2023 at the federal, state and local government areas, deliberately and favourably disposed and committed to the growth and development of the Yoruba Nation.

In doing this, we are mindful of the peculiarities that set us apart broadly and specifically, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

.

By Maureen Okon

The Director-General All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, Dr Nasiru Ladan, has called on the members of the party to remain focused to ensure its victory at all levels in the forthcoming elections.

He spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of Alhaji Suleiman Isyaku as the Director of the Amalgamated APC Support Groups (AASG) for the North-Central Zone, on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Isyaku is also the Chairman of Tinubu/Shettima Ordained Movement.

The event also witnessed the inauguration of North-Central zonal leadership and the unveiling of the national executives of AASG, which comprises major APC support groups.

Ladan said AASG was established to rally support for the party and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other candidates at all levels across Nigeria.

He further added: Tinubus outstanding leadership qualities, personal attributes and antecedents as a former two-term governor of Lagos State were enough evidence that Nigerians would be safe under his watch.

He described Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, as merchants of hope.

They are capable of redefining the meaning and concept of modern leadership in Nigeria. The duo would project their joint ticket as a transformation agenda.

Speaking also, Isyaka said the group was in search of credible leadership which could only be found in Tinubu, saying he would consolidate on the gains of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

He added that as members of a united front, the common goal was to mobilise eligible voters at the ward and unit levels, as well as engage major stakeholders across states of the federation.

Isyaka expressed optimism that APC would win the forthcoming elections from top to bottom on Feb. 25 and March 11, respectively.

The special guest of the event, Mrs Folasade Tinubu, the Iyaloja of Lagos State spoke on the need for the party members to be united to ensure its victory at the polls.

She appreciated all the support groups for their immerse contributions at the various stages of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign rallies across the country.

She said: It is important to educate the electorate on how to vote so that their votes would be valid during the polls. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News