Buses for the evacuation of Nigerian students in war-torn Sudan

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has explained that the sum of 1.2 million dollars allegedly spent in hiring buses for the evacuation of Nigerian students in Sudan was due to the dire need of the war situation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Mrs Rhoda Iliya.

It was also signed by officials of the ministry of foreign affairs Ambassador Janet Olisa and Dr Sani Gwarzo of Humanitarian affairs ministry in Abuja on Saturday.

The outcry over the negotiated sum of 1.2 million dollars for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.

The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the unverified information being circulated on the social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief, it said.

The statement also appealed for cooperation and understanding of all Nigerians in the ongoing efforts to ensure all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are returned home safely.

The first batch of 13 buses conveying six hundred and thirty seven (637) evacuees had arrived the identified safe borders at Aswan, Egypt.

The evacuees are undergoing necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria in the coming hours by the Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace airline, who have been on standby for the operations.

However, the movement of the second batch of 29 buses will commence on April 29 and the evacuees are advised to be at the designated locations with only one luggage.

It advised Nigerian students awaiting evacuation from Khartoum to cooperate with embassy officials for proper documentation while embarking on the buses to the designated locations.

This will go a long way in speeding up the process and avoiding unnecessary delays with documentation and clearance upon arrival at the Aswan, Egypt.

The government expressed commitment towards successful evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Sudan before the expiration of the extended 72 hours ceasefire agreement.

We want to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to friendly countries who have in one way or the other assisted in bringing succour to Nigerians fleeing the war in Sudan.

Particularly, Nigeria acknowledges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously assisting with the evacuation of eight Nigerians from Sudan to safety in its territory, from where they would be airlifted back to Nigeria, the statement added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Dorcas Jonah

The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Solomon Arase, has solicited the support of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) to promote harmonious working relationship between the commission and the media.

Arase said this on Friday in Abuja at an interactive session with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), in Abuja.

He said the commissions mandate include appointment, promotion, and discipline of all police officers except the Inspector-General of Police.

According to him, we are committed to collaborate with the media to ensure proper working relationship with the commission and in extension the police force.

He said that he had also held similar stakeholders meeting with relevant bodies to ensure a seamless working relationship with the commission.

Arase said that the commission had agreed that there was need for synergy between PSC, the police and the media to ensure a properly motivated friendly working atmosphere.

He said there would be constant training between police and the media for interface to ensure proper working relationship for the good of the country.

He said they were ready to change the negative narratives about the frosty relationship that had existed between the commission and the public, adding that the commission had been very silent in recent times.

Responding, the NUJ President, Isiguzo, congratulated the Arase on his appointment, adding that the union would work with the commission to ensure success.

The two leaders agreed to work together for the good of Police, the media and the nation at large. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Bolanle Lawal

An NGO, Balm In Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), has urged media professionals to promote girl-child education in Ekiti.

Its Executive Director, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, made the plea on Saturday at one day Media Roundtable on Girl-Child Education in Ado-Ekiti.

Adedeji said the programme was aimed at engaging media professionals on the need to coordinate strategic communications in addressing poverty, promoting gender equality and
changing cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girl-child.

She said that the group was commissioned as a Consultant by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Ekiti with the support of the World Bank to undertake a statewide research on the subject.

BIGIF is honoured to have the opportunity to engage with you at this event. We know that the media controls the society and is capable of changing human behaviours, living style and moral thoughts through positive messaging.

The socioeconomic factors and cultural norms affecting girl-child education in Nigeria are complex and intertwined.

To address these factors require a multi-faceted approach that involves addressing poverty, promoting gender equality and changing the cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girls.

Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of our adolescent girls and ultimately, in the future of our society, Adedeji said.

Commenting, Mrs Modupe Ajayi, representative of the Project Coordinator of AGILE, said the focus was to ensure the enrolment of adolescent girls in schools in the state.

Ajayi said further that the programme was also aimed at developing life skills that would help them to navigate adulthood.

Highlights of the event were interactive and break-out sessions with the aim of addressing the behavioural problems, among other factors that hinder girl-child education in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

Buhari receives Tinubu at Presidential Villa

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed doors with the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, and later offered Friday prayers at the State House Mosque, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, on Friday in Abuja confirmed that the two leaders had a closed-door meeting at which they greeted one another on the Sallah occasion following the completion of the 30-day Ramadan fast.

According to Shehu, they privately discussed a host of issues of common concern to them.

The President-elect was accompanied to the State House by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and two Governors, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara.

The Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa was also in the entourage of the president-elect.

The presidential aide quoted President Buhari as bidding a farewell to the visitor, saying: Thank you for joining us in prayer. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Dorcas Jonah

Initiative for Citizens Rights, Accountability and Development, a CSO, has urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to investigate alleged illegal activities of Novelty Polytechnic, Kishi, Oyo State.

The CSO, in a petition on Friday, alleged that the activities of the institute violated the standards of NBTE.

Mr Luqman Hassan, Executive Director of the group, said that the polytechnic established satellite campuses, outreach and study centres, which had been banned by NBTE.

Hassan said that the institute was also running diploma programmes that had been banned by NBTE, hence putting students and parents at a disadvantage.

He said: Findings revealed that Novelty Polytechnic, Kishi flouts rules and laws guiding the establishment and management of academic institutions, especially polytechnics in Nigeria.

The Polytechnic does not concern itself with the approved standards in line with the National Minimum Standards of Education Act.

Neither does the school run in conformity with any laid down quality assurance mechanism of NBTE.

Hassan also alleged that the polytechnic currently did not have qualified lecturers, and that those engaged could take as much as 14 courses, on a meagre salary of N35,000.

This is against International Labour Standards and best practices, he said.

However, the Proprietor of the polytechnic, Dr Abdul Salami, who responded to the allegations in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said they were baseless.

Salami said that the petition was the handiwork of some aggrieved members of staff of the institute.

He said the polytechnic had followed all laid down rules and standards by appropriate bodies, adding that the institute had qualified lecturers, debunking all the allegations in the petition. (NAN)

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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Temitope Ponle

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for African Governments to connect to Africas Diaspora for the sustainable development of the continent.

Buhari said this in his keynote address at the ongoing Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) which was held in Abuja on Thursday.

The president was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Muazu Sambo.

The president said African governments needed to harness human and material resources of the Diaspora.

This, he said, would enable them to become forces to be reckoned with in regards to sustainable development of their homelands, regional bodies, and national governments.

He said this could be done through remittances, medical missions, educational visits, tourism, investments and enterprises, among others.

On this note, there have been foreign and national initiatives to harness the potentials of the African Diaspora in the development of the African continent.

The African Union, African governments have been making efforts towards mobilising the African diaspora for the social and economic development of African communities worldwide.

There have been statements by high level officials of several countries, calling for quote unquote, turning the brain drain into brain gain.

The African Union has designated the Diaspora as the sixth region and some African governments have established cabinet positions within the governments to mobilise the diaspora.

These are all laudable initiatives geared towards the economic growth of Africa by connection with the African diaspora.

Moreover, he said the objectives of the symposium would lead to outcomes that portrayed to the entire African Diaspora, a possible sense of belonging and homecoming, with an ease of entry or movement for the Diaspora into Africa.

Buhari also said it would be beneficial for an improved collaboration on Diaspora engagement between multilateral organisations.

Speaking, President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said building stronger connections between Africa and Diaspora globally was pertinent to the contribution of the Diaspora to global security, stability and development.

Touray said it would enable the Diaspora recognise that they are important actors in the integration and development of Africa.

For this reason, there is a need for continuous evaluation of the extant policies and regulations for enhanced Diaspora engagement.

I call on participants to this important conference to help us move from business as usual.

Concrete and actionable Diaspora strategy, both strategies that will serve both the members of the diaspora and Africa.

Also speaking, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni said the theme of the symposium had a role to play in shaping Africas future.

Museveni was represented by Amb. Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, Uganda.

The Ugandan president said African Governments should work towards a more integrated and prosperous Africa to recognise the importance of the Diaspora community.

He said recognising their importance would encourage them to take an active role in the development of their different countries.

This is very critical to ensuring that Diaspora resources and expertise for the benefit of Africa and that the Diaspora community is engaged in our coordinated transformation agenda.

He also said the symposium provided the opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for division and sustainable development in Africa.

Meanwhile, in his message, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said economic integration was the single biggest force that could help African Union realise its economic ambitions outlined in Agenda 2063.

Akufo-Addo was represented by Amb. Sena Siaw-Boateng, Ambassador of Ghana to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of Mission to the European Union.

Integration, indeed, is championing the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement of which its secretariat is based in Accra.

This challenge demands commitment, patience, and clear sightedness, as well as the consistent support of our Diaspora. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Joan Nwagwu

The Organised Labour have described the Federal Governments decision to suspend the removal of fuel subsidy as the best option.

Mr Benson Upah, Head of Information,Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this to newsmen while reacting to the recent suspension of the subsidy removal by the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that earlier, the National Economic Council (NEC) had planned for the removal of subsidy on petroleum product.

According to Upah, we are glad that they have begun to see the light and decided to do the right thing.

Because the path they wanted to toe on the detriment of the ordinary Nigerians would have set the country on fire.

There would have been instantaneous reaction. Of course, we would have been glad to coordinate those reactions.

But happily, they have beginning to see the light. Our advice would be that they should take a lesson from the document we gave them on the so-called fuel subsidy removal.

The answer cannot be far from domestic production, he said.

He said the decision would enable all the corruption building into the system to be minimised.

Upah, therefore, called on the Federal Government to fix the existing refineries or build new ones, instead of importing refined petroleum products.

Also, Mr Nuhu Toro, Secretary General, Trade Union Congress (TUC) on his part said that the Federal Governments decision to suspend fuel subsidy removal was a good move.

Though its coming late but the Federal governments decision to suspend the move to remove fuel subsidy has alluded to the fact that such harsh economic policy ought to have been a product of social dialogue which was not done.

We told Nigerians earlier on that the policy is ill-timed and is not acceptable. So it is good that the government has done a U-turn because the policy cannot be forced down our throat, he said.

Toro said that it was good that the government had to rethink its decision on the removal of fuel subsidy.

He also added that refurbishing the existing refineries and production of petroleum products in our country is in the best interest of the country because of the huge advantages.

First, it would create jobs, make the petroleum products available for consumption and probably reduce the price of the products. It will also guarantee foreign direct investment and make Nigeria a better of place.

We are confused that our refineries are not working and we have asked over time, why are the refineries not working.

So there is a strong need for a deliberate effort by the incoming government to ensure that our refineries work.

All the monies they claim goes to the process of deregulation can actually be utilised to make our refineries functiona,he said.

He added that the decision to revise that policy had further vindicated Nigerians as this was the right thing.

He however, charged the incoming government that the instrumentality of social dialogue should be leveraged upon on issues that affect the general project of Nigeria, adding that the voice and interest of Nigerians could be accommodated.

Policies should not just be drafted overnight and pushed through peoples throat. Nigeria belongs to all of us.

We are all critical stakeholders and must be part decision making and implementation body to ensuring that our country move forward, he said. (NAN)()

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

Abike Dabiri-Erewa

By Ismaila Chafe

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa says over 5,500 Nigerian schooling in war-torn Sudan are among the first batches of Nigerian citizens being evacuated from the troubled country.

Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure at the weekly ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to her, there are over three million Nigerians residing in Sudan and efforts are being made to evacuate as much as possible from the country, if the war persists.

She, however, maintained that priority would be on children, students and women.

She said already, 13 buses had departed Sudan for Egyptian border Aswan, from where the returnees would be airlifted back to Nigeria.

She said:We have some buses that have departed from the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan and as I speak, I think they are just about two hours away from Aswan in Cairo.

Others departed from the Elrazi University also in Khartoum.

All in all, 13 buses have departed for Aswan border in Egypt where they will be received by the Nigerian Ambassador there and the Director General of the National emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Habib Ahmed, who is already there with some officials.

According to NIDCOM chairman, it is now time for Nigeria to focus more on Nigerians in Sudan and other parts of Africa because there are many of them residing in other African countries.

When we were talking about Diaspora voting, some people were saying when we do that, it may not augur well. But we said no, we need to go to places like Sudan where we have millions of Nigerians who migrated there years ago and they have relationships and businesses there.

The data is being worked on but I want to tell you categorically that by the time we finish the research we are doing, perhaps Sudan would be one of the largest areas where we have the largest concentration of Nigerians in diaspora.

Everytime we focus on Europe, America and all that, it is time to focus on Africa and Africans in the Diaspora,she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said as the evacuees return to Nigeria, they would be given some stipends to help them settle down before joining their families.

NEMA will decide what would be given to the returnees because the funding is with the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs and Disaster Management. Usually is just a little amount.

The last one, we gave them we evacuated people, we gave them . So, it depends on the budget they have.

But we in NIDCOM give them recharge cards, SIM cards and sometimes phones. Usually they get just to hold and these are students coming back to their families. They are not refugees, they have homesshe said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

From L-R: Fasina Olakunle, Director PPP Department, State House, Mrs Agalasi Ehigie, Director, Infrastructure Management Department, OHCSF representing the Head of Civil Service and DG ICRC and Chairman of 3PUCF, Michael Ohiani at the 2023 Public-Private Partnership Consultative Forum

By Okeoghene Akubuike

Mr Micheal Ohiani, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says the Federal Government remains committed to infrastructure development in Nigeria through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Ohiani said this at the 1st Quarter 2023 Public-Private Partnership Consultative Forum (3PUCF) and the Inauguration of State House PPP-Unit in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was hosted by the State House.

According to Ohiani, since the last 3PUCF meeting held in December 2022, the Federal Government has achieved more successes and milestones in major sectors to achieve a PPP economy.

The director-general said the 1st quarter meeting was scheduled for March 2, 2023, but had to be postponed due to the general elections.

Ohiani, who gave a summary of the PPP projects recorded since the last meeting, said there were more projects at the inception stage waiting to commence development.

He said: We have over 200 projects at different stages of the development and procurement phases.

In addition to over 40 projects at the implementation phase, I believe that together, we can do even more in the year, he added.

He listed out some projects the commission had issued Outline Business Case (OBC) Compliance Certificates to include the development of Ports of Ondo Multipurpose Deep-Sea Port and the Benin Port Project in Edo State.

Ohiani said others included the Expansion and Development of Snake Island and the Lagos Multipurpose Sea Port project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

The Burutu Port Complex Phases 1, 2, and 3 projects had the OBC Compliance Certificate revalidated,Ohiani said

He revealed that in the PPP Procurement Phase, the following had been accomplished, with the issuance of Full Business Case(FBC) Compliance Certificates.

Revalidation of the FBC Compliance Certificate for Establishment of an Aviation Leasing Company (ALC) of the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

The Refurbishment, Operation and Management of the water system at Tin Can Port, Tin Can Island by Nigeria Ports Authority.

These give a total of 153 OBC Compliance Certificates and 75 FBC Compliance Certificates issued by the Commission to date, which is a record on its own.

Ohiani also listed out some projects that had received the Federal Executive Councils approvals to enable them achieve Commercial Close.

He said the projects included the Central Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWREF) Concession and Eastern Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWREF) Concession.

The director-general said others were the e-custom project of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Fire Detection and Alarm System project of the Federal Fire Service under the Ministry of Interior.

Development of Cassava Bio Ethanol Value Chain project of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The design, construction and financing of a Mixed Development Comprising Residential Houses, Hotels, Recreational Facilities and Office Blocks for Commercial Purposes Under a PPP arrangement of the FRCN.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, in his address, commended the ICRC for creating a roadmap to handle projects and programmes on infrastructure development through PPP.

I share the spirit that 10 years from now because we have placed our fingers in the right places and we have planned, execution is guaranteed to be delivered.

Umar gave his assurances that the state house would work closely with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) for the greater good of the country, adding we should seek ways of using technology to attract viable projects.

He disclosed that the state house in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, identified and tentatively screened three of its projects for possible consideration of final cases of PPP.

They include the State House Wildlife Sanctuary and Citizens Park, State House Medical Centre, and State House Lagos Facility and we have trained our staff to prepare for this he said.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), and Chairman of the meeting, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, called on more (MDAs) to create PPP departments.

Yemi-Esan, represented by Mrs Agalasi Ehigie, Director, Infrastructure Management Department, Office of the HCSF, said the ICRC was doing a lot to ensure the infrastructure needs of the country were met.

NAN reports that the forum, which was inaugurated 10 years ago at the State House, provides a platform for PPP departments in MDAs and stakeholders to share ideas, success stories, and challenges on their PPP projects to drive economic growth in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

From left: Representative of the Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr Chukwuma Ngaha; Assistant Director RMRDC/Head Lovastatin Pilot Plant, Mrs Uche Maduegbunam; Deputy Director, Engineering Design Development Division, RMRDC, Mr Obassi Ettu, RMRDC, and others during the RMRDCs facility tour on breakthrough in process technology and local content development and innovation in Abuja

By Sylvester Thompson

The Federal Government through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has established the agriculture and mineral resources International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification laboratory in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly established lab is aimed at analyzing agro and mineral resources produced in accordance with international standards for exportation.

Mr Obassi Ettu, Deputy Director, Engineering Design, Development and Technical Assistant to the Director-General of the council, said the laboratory will curb the short-changing of exporters by other investors.

Ettu, who took newsmen on a tour of the newly constructed facility, added that it was part of the achievements of Prof. Hussain Ibrahim, the Director-General of the council.

He said the laboratory was part of RMRDCs response to the nations requirements for quality infrastructure.

Exporters can short-change themselves by exporting their materials raw, what you need is value addition and it can be done by knowing what is inside the raw materials.

It is done when the laboratory provides you with a characterisation of what is contained in the raw materials and with it the raw materials value rises.

For instance, lead zinc exporters who sell raw zinc are given anything because they need money.

But after analysing the lead zinc, you would find silver, copper, lead and zinc leading to the value of the material.

This would be listed out in the ISO certificate and an added value in the market, he said.

Dr. Fortune Alabi, Assistant Director and Head, Pharmaceutical Materials Division, said the laboratory was ISO certified, hence whatever result it presented was accepted worldwide as a well certified analysis. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News