Category: General News

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiohmole has reiterated that he would not miss sleep for minute over Tuesday’s defection of some members of the National Assembly from the party.

It would be recalled that 15 senators on July 25 announced their defection from the APC to the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter to the President of the Senate, signed by 14 senators, they indicated their intention to leave the ruling APC for the opposition PDP.

Also 37 members of the House of Representatives formerly in the fold of the All Progressive Congress (APC), dumped the party the same date and moved to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The Representatives in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara officially announced their defection during plenary on Tuesday.

Oshiohmole, however, said the APC was not worried with the defection which he described as “mercenary activities’’.

He said: “Well, my attitude is like I have told you before, as the National Chairman, I am committed to listening to very legitimate grievances and engaging all those who are aggrieved that we can see through their grievances.

“But I insist that I will not miss a sleep one minute over mercenary activities.

“I had said and I want to repeat, this business of governance must be driven by men and women of honour.

“If the only motivation is personal interest, what is in it for me, how many people have done xyz for, if that is the basis, the earlier those in this business of personal gains, the earlier they return to where they belong the better.

“This party that I am privileged to chair is not worried at all, we are not disturbed.

“But let me assure you, I am so happy that over time that water will fill its level.’’

According to Oshiohmole, the APC is a progressive party and all its members must subscribe to the values and ideals of a progressive party.

“If indeed you belong to the extreme right, and you mistakenly find yourself in a progressive party, obviously that is not where you belong.

“As soon as you realize that you can’t adjust to the requirement of progressive, which is people driven, people based, people oriented and you choose to return to the right wing where you know what the name of the game was, share the money, it is your choice,’’ he added.

On the reported siege on the houses of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President by security personnel, Oshiohmole said he was not aware of such incidents.

He said: “When you are dealing with law and order issues I am not going to stand here and make comment on the basis of your own speculations,

“I need to have the details. I am not into security apparatus, I do not understand how they operate but you also don’t want to accuse me of obstruction of justice, which a democracy requires.

“So I am going to limit myself to my brief, namely issues that affect membership and the running of the APC. Just to reassure you, I am happy.

“I have made this point long ago that with time, Nigerians will really have to be able to say, this is what this party stands for, this is what the other party stands for.

“This thing that in the morning you will have breakfast with me, in the afternoon you are having lunch with python and in the evening you are having sugarcane with some other forces,

“I think in the interest of our nation we need to simplify these issues before the electorate. Because, the confusion is that you have coalition of people whose ideas are not compatible.’’(NAN)

BUA Cement, a subsidiary of BUA Group, it had trained block and concrete makers on using the right mix of cement with other components, to guarantee high standard of block and concrete.

Mr O’tega Ogra, Head, Corporate Communication, BUA Group, on Tuesday said in Lagos, said the essence of using the right mix of cement with other component was to reduce building collapse in the country.

He said the workshop was organised in collaboration with the Modern Skills Training Centre of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Nasiru Ladan, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, BUA (Obu) Cement, said the workshop was part of the company’s efforts to address poor mix of quality cement to reduce the incidence of collapsed buildings across the country.

‘If the quality of the cement is good and the other materials you are using are not in the right proportion, you are likely to end up with a product that is substandard.

“So the importance of this meeting is for us to rub minds and exchange ideas on how to achieve the best quality of whatever product we are producing.

“Most cases of collapsed building have been attributed to either the use of poor quality product or no adherence to quality standard towards the use of the right mix,” he said.

Ladan appreciated the stakeholders for their patronage of BUA Cement and restated the company’s commitment to continuous production of high quality cement that would enhance the standard of the building industry.

On her part, the Training Manager, Modern Skills Training Centre, ITF, Mrs Ayodele Shodunke, urged block makers to utilise the knowledge acquired during the training to change the narrative of poor quality blocks.

She said ITF was committed to equipping block makers with relevant modern skills that would impact positively on building materials.

Chairman, Abuja Concrete Manufacturers of Nigeria, Comrade Uzor George-Tiga, commended BUA Cement for the life-changing programme and described it as an eye opener which would strengthen activities around their businesses. (NAN)

The Senate on Tuesday received a petition to reject the nomination of Mr Muiz Banire as chairman of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), who laid the petition at plenary, said “there is a petition here from my constituents on the nomination of Muiz Banire as AMCON chairman.

“Enclosed are the signatures of the three senators from Lagos State against the nomination.’’

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, asked the lawmaker to lay the petition, and referred it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

On July 18, the senate acknowledged receipt of the request from President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation of Banire (SAN) as Chairman, Governing Board of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The request was in compliance with Section 10(1) of the AMCON Act 2010.

The Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Matters screened the nominee on Monday, but the Senate is yet to confirm him. (NAN)

The Plateau State Human Virology Research Centre (PLASVIREC) Laboratory has been accredited to provide HIV Serology and Viral load procedures to the general public.

The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), which accredited the centre, described PLASVIREC as competent and excellent.

Mr IIle Mamman, the PLASVIREC Laboratory Manager, disclosed this on Tuesday in Jos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that with the accreditation, the centre has acquired a national and international recognition, and competent to provide HIV serology, HIV Viral Load.

“We can also conduct Early Infant Diagnosis for HIV exposed infant using standard procedure and good laboratory practices.

“The accreditation of the centre will improve the quality of HIV data which would in turn enhance the quality of test results for the effective treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Mamman said that the feat would make give clients more confidence in the accuracy of their test reports because it has been generated by competent staff with the aid of reliable equipment.

“It will also increase productivity, credibility of result and in turn decrease clients complains,” the manager said.

According to him, the present status of the centre will greatly attract national and international research collaboration, which will also boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and the country at large. (NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to assist African countries in distress.

President Buhari stated this When he received the outgoing High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs Haja Afsatu Kabba, at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

The President said brotherly assistance extended to the West African country during the Ebola epidemic and the recent mudslide natural disaster, was the least Nigeria could do.

“I congratulate your new President on his election, and believe that our long-standing relationship, which dates back to almost 60 years, will continue to flourish,” he said.

He wished Kabba, who had spent two years in Nigeria, the best of luck in her next assignment.

The outgoing High Commissioner expressed gratitude to the government and people of Nigeria for the support granted her and her country.

She expressed optimism that the good bilateral relations between Nigeria and her country would continue. (NAN)