FEC Meeting

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N58.5 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in some parts of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that first segment of the approval was for roads in Kano State at the cost of N12.1billion as well as a road between Kaduna-Pambegua-Saminaka-Jos road, linking Plateau and Kaduna States, at the cost of N38.7 billion.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, revealed this when he briefed State House Correspondents at the end of the Council meeting held at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said: The Ministry of Works and Housing presented one memorandum for the award of contracts for the construction of two roads; the Yakasai-Bagume-Damagun road in Kano, for N12.157 billion and the rehabilitation of the Kaduna- Pambegua-Jos road linking Kaduna and Plateau States for N38.701 billion and the proposals were approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Similarly, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammed Bello, revealed that contracts were approved for the rehabilitation of two roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During Councils meeting today, I presented two memos on behalf of the FCT administration.

The first memo was for the augmentation of the on-going contract for the construction of Yaba-Bache in Kwali/Abaji Area Councils and that was in the sum of N431,640,286 and as you know that is an area that is by River Gurara which is a very important water body criss-crossing the FCT.

This particular project, we hope when completed, it is going to enhance the economic development in that area and enhance food security in the FCT.

The second project is also an augmentation in the sum of N7,302,585, 139. The intention is to link the Northern expressway from ring road III to ring road IV, to complete that critical road that is supposed to connect the Abuja Industrial Park and the rest of the road systems within the territory, he said.

According to the minister, the FCT administration will try its best to fund the two projects, because of their importance to the areas involved.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba, also told the correspondents that the Council ratified the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy II (NRSS II).

According to him, NRSS II, an update to the maiden of the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy I that was instituted from 2014-2018, seeks to improve on the achievements of the first edition by reducing road accidents and fatalities across the country.

He said: I presented to the Federal Executive Council for ratification, the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy II, which is an update to the maiden of the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy I that was from 2014-2018.

The NRSS II seeks to improve on the achievements of the first edition by further reducing road accidents and fatalities and instituting basis for sustainable road traffic crashes and fatalities reduction.

It also looked at the current road safety situation, articulates the desired road safety situation, design implementation of initiatives and programmes, these programmes and projects were estimated for implementation.

In putting together the revised document, the NRSS I performance was assessed, benchmarking were done with other regions of Africa and the world in terms of road safety statistics and road safety strategies before the documentation was put together and costed.

This has however, been taken through the technical working group for review and the national economic council.

So, what FEC did today was to ratify the decision of the national economic council on NRSS II. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Festus Keyamo

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government has appointed Mallam Abubakar Fikpo as the Acting Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to replace Dr Nasiru Argungu who was sacked from the position on Dec. 7.

Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, confirmed the appointment in a letter titled Appointment as Acting Director General of National Directorate of Employment and addressed to Fikpo on Wednesday in Abuja.

Following the directive of Mr President relieving Dr Nasiru Argungu as the Director General of the NDE, you are hereby directed to take over as the Acting Director General of the Agency pending ratification by Mr President.

This is to ensure there is no vacuum in the administration of the Agency, the minister said.

Keyamo, who is also the Supervising minister of the agency, said the directive takes effect from Monday, 7 Dec.

The minister enjoined the Acting Director General to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Agency, while also ensuring a proper handing over to him by Dr Nasiru Argungu of all government property in his possession.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Dec. 7 relieved Dr Nasiru Argungu of his post as the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, with a directive to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment to propose an Acting Director-General from among the Senior Directors of NDE based on competence and seniority. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

House of Reps at plenary

By EricJames Ochigbo

A Bill for an Act to amend the Compulsory, Free, Universal Basic Education Act on Wednesday, passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill which sought to expand the scope of compulsory free basic education in Nigeria to include, Senior Secondary Education level, was sponsored by Rep. Taiwo Oluga and four other lawmakers.

Leading the debate, Oluga said the bill sought to amend sections 2, 4, 7, 11 and 15of the existing Act.

The rep said the aim was to provide for rehabilitation of delinquent children and provide comprehensive definition for services, stakeholders, children or wards as captured in the existing Act.

According to her, this will be done by providing a role for community based organisations in the development of basic education in states and Local Government Areas.

The amendment provides that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for primary, junior and senior secondary school age children.

Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and completes primary, junior and senior secondary education in Nigeria, she said.

In his ruling, Speaker of the house, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, referred the bill to relevant committees for further legislative actions. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC Smart Card Readers

By Naomi Sharang

The National Assembly says it plans to make the use of Smart Card Reader compulsory in future elections in Nigeria.

Chairperson House Committee on Electoral Matters, Aishatu Dukku said this at a Joint Public Hearing on The Bill for an Act to repeal the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) and enact the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act, 2020, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The event was organised by the National Assemblys Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.
Dukku said that the amendment will affect about 300 clauses in the Act.

In Section 49 of the Electoral Act 2010 under Use of Ballot Paper, Subsection (1) and (2) are to be amended to read:

A person intending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voters card to a presiding officer for accreditation at the polling unit in the constituency in which his name is registered.

(2) the Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate the particulars of the voter in the manner prescribed by the Commission, she said.

Dukku said that a new subsection (3) has been introduced.

Where a smart card reader deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled within 24 hours, she said.

Other amendment to the Act, Dukku said was that indicating that the commission may adopt electronic voting or any other method of voting in any election it conduct as it may deem fit.

She also made a case for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to be given special consideration especially during elections and the electoral process in the country.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while declaring the event open, said that the national assembly was poised to give Nigerian electorate a befitting Electoral Act before the end of first quarter of 2021.

We will do everything it takes to give Nigerians a befitting Electoral Act that will ensure a credible and transparent election outcome even before 2023, because we are doing some elections before 2023. This will enable us start testing the Electoral Act amended in first quarter of 2021.

We remain committed to all the issues we have considered important in our legislative agenda.

And without anybody holding us responsible, we have achieved most of those things we have set as target.

And the Electoral Act amendment is one of those targets that by the grace of God, we will work so hard to pass before the end of first quarter of next year, he said.

The President of the Senate further said that other critical bill to be considered in 2021 was the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Alongside the Electoral Act, certainly, the PIB which is equally very important for this country will receive similar treatment.

We intend to pass the PIB before second quarter of next year. And as you all know, this is one Bill where legislative necessity that had defied passage or defied assent from 2009 when the first Bill on the PIB came to the National Assembly.

To date, it has not been passed or signed. This time around, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that it is not only passed but that the President assents to it and Nigerians will see tremendous progress, Lawan said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maiduguri airport

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N1.1 billion for the expansion of the apron of Maiduguri airport and insurance cover for 22 airports across the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the councils meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said The first memo was a contract for the expansion of the apron of Maiduguri airport.

This contract is worth N719,117,868.60. The expansion of the Maiduguri airport has become necessary because of the increased traffic at the airport that apron needs to be expanded to avoid aircraft being parked wing to wing and that might result in accidents.

The second contract was for insurance and it was awarded to ensure assets such as terminal buildings in 22 airports belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in the sum of N390,055,687.45 and both memos were approved by council.

The minister disclosed that he also briefed the Council on the outcome of meeting with stakeholders in his home state, Kwara, in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest in the state.

We had about 39 other stakeholders ranging from CAN, JNI, the Youth Organisations, ASUU, NMA, NBA, and the whole idea was to reach out to as many stakeholders as possible market men and market women, he added.

The Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk and that of Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, said they also briefed the council.

They said their briefings were on the outcome of their meetings with stakeholders in their home states in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protests in Zamfara and Abia.

While fielding questions from the correspondents, Ogah dismissed the allegation of extortions against the police in the Southeast Zone of the country.

He noted that the presence of security officials in the zone had continued to attract investments to the Southeast.

He said: I presented my report from my state, Abia and Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba presented for Imo State and we were able to convey Mr Presidents message to the people in our various states.

Majorly, one high point that I want to say critically was in Abia, a documentary was done showing issues concerning war. There is no need for anybody to encourage war any more.

War does not bring prosperity but peace brings prosperity to the entire world, and that is why we stand for one indivisible nation, Nigeria for everyone.

Thats what Mr President stands for and this government has done a lot for this nation within this period which we shared with the people and they are happy with the performance of the Federal Government.

Except that they feel that most of the information is not getting down and which we have started passing on to the people that this is what the government is doing.

So, I believe that the information is getting out there and people are happy with what the Federal Government is doing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Health workers wearing PPE

By Abbas Bamalli

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says the state government has received donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth N82 million from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Ganduje said this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kano by Hassan Musa-Fagge, the Chief Press Secretary to the states Deputy Governor.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nasir Gawuna, received the donation after which he flagged off the PPE distribution to primary health facilities in the state.

While commending the FCDO, Ganduje said his administration had an open door for further collaboration with development partners to improve the delivery of quality healthcare service in the state.

Ganduje pointed out that the laudable gesture by Lafiya Programme, an initiative of FCDO, would strengthen the effort of the state and complement the success recorded in curbing the menace of COVID-19 pandemic.

This occasion is another milestone in our collaboration with partners and our government commitment to improve the lives of the people of the state through the establishment of an effective and efficient health delivery system.

Despite the prevailing financial crunch, we are doing everything possible to ensure consistent improvement in the health indices by implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving the health status of the people of the state.

I assured you that the donation which came through your Lafiya Programme will be judiciously used, Ganduje said.

In her remarks, the Regional Coordinator of the FCDO Nigeria, Hajiya Nafisa-Ado, said the donation of the PPEs, worth over N82 million, was to support the state government in its effort to protect the people against the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the government should expect the second batch of PPEs from FCDO, worth over N280 million, in January 2021.

She explained that the FCDO had developed synergy with Kano State Health partners which included WHO, UNICEF, Core Group, NCDC, African CDC and CHAI to regularly review the COVID-19 incidence Action plan to respond to emerging issues on the pandemic.

And also, through our Lafiya Programme we have supported Kano to secure N100 million grant from the World Bank, she added.

Nafisa-Ado applauded Kano government on the success achieved in the control of COVID-19 transmission in the state particularly in the conduct of house-to-house community screening and testing.

She added that they were confident that the support given would be utilised by the government and the people of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Security Challenges: Buhari charges Governors to work with traditional rulers for local intelligence

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the 36 state governors of the federation to work more with traditional rulers and community members to improve local intelligence gathering that will aid the work of security agencies.

The presidents spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said Buhari gave the charge at the end of a security meeting with the 36 governors in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the presidential aide, Buhari listened to presentations by a governor from each of the six Geo-Political Zones on their specific security challenges.

The president recalled that in the old order communities identified new comers and passed the information to constituted authority.

He said: The sub-region is no longer safe, more so with the collapse of the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafis regime and the cross border movement of weapons and criminals.

Governors must work with traditional rulers. Try and work with traditional rulers to boost intelligence gathering.

While giving an overview of the security situation in each of the zones, the president said his administration had done well in the North East and South South, adding that the South South situation was still worrisome.

Every day I get situation reports about illegal refineries and the blowing up of pipelines. You must stop local rogues from sabotaging oil installations,he said.

Addressing the issue of banditry and kidnapping reported in each of the geo-political zones, Buhari said:

Security is important and we must secure the whole country.

We are thinking very hard on the issue of kidnapping.

We will make it possible for the military to get to the bandits and kidnappers and eliminate them.

He explained that the closure of the nations land borders was partly an attempt to control the smuggling in of weapons and drugs.

Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours, we are looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible.

Buhari gave assurances that the countrys military would continue to get the support they needed to fight criminals.

I am not going to the public to speak about the vehicles and equipment we have ordered.

What I can say is that the military received armoured cars and other equipment and they are training the trainers.

More of such equipment, including military aircrafts will come in, he added.

On the issues raised on #ENDSARS protest and its hijack by hoodlums to cause mayhem and destroy private and public property, Buhari sounded a strong warning about a reccurrence, saying that no responsible government would allow that to happen.

We do not stop anyone from demonstrating, but you dont set up roadblocks and smash windscreens. Which government will allow that?

He noted that the foreign press coverage of the #ENDSARS violence was not balanced, citing specifically the CNN and BBC, for omitting the number of policemen killed, police stations that were razed, and the prisons that were thrown open for inmates to escape.

I was disgusted by the coverage, which did not give attention to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt, and prisons that were opened. (They said we are all at fault. We dont have the sympathy of anyone. We are on our own).

Buhari said violent demonstrations would no longer be allowed, saying democracy does not mean confusion or lack of accountability.

On the eight-month long strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, the president said lecturers had not taken into consideration the larger challenges facing the country.

Government conceded something. The problem is that they refused to look at the problem of the whole country.The Minister of Labour is working hard at it.

It is amazing how ASUU will stay out of classrooms for so long. Theres a need for our elites to understand the challenges facing the country.

Source: NAN News

Some of the drugs intercepted at the Abuja Airport

By Ibironke Ariyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered two new methods drug traffickers adopted to evade the prying eyes of law enforcement personnel and this led to the seizure of 14.4kg of cocaine.

In a statement,Mr Jonah Achema, NDLEA spokesman said that the new methods were uncovered in two separate operations at theNnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Special Area Command, Abuja.

Achema said that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures at the airport, noting that both suspects were male.

He noted that the command intercepted a consignment of four packets of chocolate sweets of white substances, weighing 7.2kg, which tested positive to cocaine in the first operation.

He added that NDLEA operatives also uncovered 12 parcels of cellophane wrappers, weighing another 7.2kg, with whitish substances which also tested positive to cocaine in the second operation.

The first operation involved Da -Silva Mailson Mario, a Brazilian aged 23, who was arrested with a suit case containing the packets of the chocolate sweet.

This was during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline ET 911 which originated from Brazil en-route Addis Ababa to Abuja.

The second operation involved Elechi Adendu Kingsley, a Nigerian aged 39, who was arrested with a bag containing cellophane bags during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight ET 911, he said.

Achema said that Mario, the first suspect who spoke through an interpreter, decided to be silent on all questions put to him adding that he was only inquisitive about the jail terms his alleged offence might attract in Nigeria.

He said that Elechi, the second suspect, an indigene of Umulolo Local Government Area of Imo State who has been living in Brazil for the past 13 years said he would not blame anybody for his involvement.

He said I am an adult and I am fully aware of what I was going into. I agree that somebody gave it to me but I offered to carry it, Elechi says.

Achema said that Elechi confirmed that he was promised N3 million upon safe delivery of the drugs to somebody in Nigeria adding he was in Nigeria preparatory to his wedding in January, 2021.

The Commander, NDLEANnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Mr Kabir Taskuwa, saidthere was no underestimating the imagination of drug merchants.

What is expected of us is not only to counter their devices but to think ahead of them.

As we can see, any step they take, we are many steps ahead, hence the results we are seeing. I wish to promise them more frustration, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

DPR Officials

By Edeki Igafe

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has cautioned Nigerians against panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products during the Yuletide.

Mr Antai Asuquo, DPR Operations Controller, Warri Zonal office gave the warning on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri.

Asuquo said that the Federal Government had made available sufficient petroleum products that would last throughout the festive season and beyond, adding that there was no need for panic-buying or hoarding.

We should be very careful how we handle petroleum products in this period of harmattan.

The products are available, government has made sufficient provision to cover this festive period till 2021.

The prices will continue to fluctuate, today it may be high, and tomorrow it can come down.

So panic buying and hoarding does not make sense, do not buy and store, thinking that tomorrow the price may go up, the price will really come down, he said.

Asuquo also appealed to consumers to report cases of under-dispensing and other sharp practices to the regulatory agency for appropriate action.

Consumers should be vigilant, they should report any filling station that under dispenses petrol to us, we will seal it immediately, Asuquo said.

He also advised petroleum marketers to operate within the rules and regulations of the DPR, warning that any defaulter would be sanctioned accordingly.

Asuquo said that the regulatory agency would continue to carry out its routine surveillance to ensure that operators in the downstream sector conduct their businesses in line with the rules and regulations.

He, however, warned the marketers against under-dispensing and other sharp practices in the petroleum business. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vaccination mobile app for India

The Indian Health Ministry has developed a digital platform, including a mobile application for real-time tracking of processes related to the COVID-19 vaccination in the country, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

The platform, dubbed Co-WIN, will be monitoring vaccine delivery and registering people for vaccination.

Co-WIN digital platform includes a free downloadable mobile application which can help record vaccine data. One can register themselves on it if they want the vaccine.

There are five modules in Co-WIN app administrator module, registration module, vaccination module, beneficiary acknowledgment module and report module, Bhushan said.

India comes second in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases (9.7 million), following the U.S. with more than 15 million COVID-19 cases.

On Monday, Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech asked the Drugs Controller General of India for emergency use authorisation of its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin.

Similar applications have already been filed with the Indian drugs watchdog by Pfizer/BioNTech for their BNT162b2 vaccine and the Serum Institute of India for its Covishield, developed by the University of Oxford.

Covaxin is currently going through phase III clinical trials in India, involving 26,000 people.

In total, trials for eight COVID-19 candidate vaccines, including Russias Sputnik V, are currently underway in India. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News