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  • Gbajabiamila Visits Katsina State Over Security Challenges

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS)  The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has visited Katsina State to access the level of insecurity with a view to finding lasting solutions.

    Gbajabiamila disclosed this on Monday when he visited Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari.

    “We are here to see what is happening on the ground, discuss with the governor and proffer possible solutions to the problems.

    “Nigeria is one country, a state alone cannot deal with this, there must be something which we can do to assist.

    He said that no one can assist the state by just seeing reports in the media.

    “We have been to Zamfara and Borno States, the situation is almost the same everywhere we go.

    “The issue of kidnappers is the major problem here, though things have now subsided because the governor has done so much,’’ he said.

    Responding, Masari said that the porosity nature of the nation’s borders also contribute to the level of insecurity challenges in the country.

    He said that drug abuse and trafficking was mostly accompanied by arms trafficking.

    “Our legislators need to do some legislation to address the situation otherwise criminals will continue to move from one country to another,’’ he said.

    He said that the government identified that the bandits were neglected for several years.

    “It is a signal for us to do the necessary, and what is necessary is education.

    “We will give the people living at the grassroots good education that will afford them to earn a living by way of learning some trades.

    “I believe, you cannot be a good cattle rearer without good education,’’ Masari said. (NAN)

  • Shell deploys cameras to track spills, crude theft

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) says it has deployed state-of-the-art high definition cameras for quick detection and response to crude oil theft and spills from its facilities.

    Mr Igo Weli, SPDC General Manager, External Relations disclosed this at a workshop on Monday tagged: “2019 Pipelines Right of Ways Media Engagement” in Warri.

    Weli, who was represented by Mr Alaye Dokubo, said the cameras would also help in tracking vandalism of SPDC Joint Venture (JV) assets.

    “The cameras are attached to specialized helicopters, which carry out daily overflight over our facilities. This measure has improved the surveillance of our Joint Venture assets,” he said.

    The general manager also said that SPDC had implemented anti-theft protection mechanisms on key infrastructure, such as wellheads and manifolds to address constant attacks from vandals.

    He noted that the development would prevent and minimize sabotage-related spills.

    Weli said the daily loss of over 11,000 barrels of oil per day in 2018 and the threat to the integrity of the SPDC JV assets necessitated the approach to protect critical national assets.

    “We collaborate with community leaders, traditional rulers, civil societies and state governments in the Niger Delta.

    “This is to implement several initiatives and partnerships to raise awareness on the negative impact of crude oil theft and illegal oil refining.

    “Such public enlightenment programmes on the negative impacts to people and the environment help to build greater trust in spill response and clean-up processes,” he said.

    Weli said that SPDC would sustain its air and ground surveillance to complement the efforts of government security agents in checking crude theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining.

    He commended the effort of the Operation Delta Safe in protecting critical oil and gas assets and appealed to other government security forces to intensify their activities around oil and gas facilities.

    “In its June 2019 monthly report, NNPC, which controls Nigeria’s 55 per cent interest in the SPDC JV, reported a 77 per cent rise in oil pipeline vandalism.

    “Also, 106 pipeline breaches were recorded in June, up from 60 in May,” Weli said.

    Also speaking, SPDC’s General Manager, Safety and Environment, Mrs Chidube Nnene-Anochie, said majority of spill incidents on SPDC pipelines were as a result of sabotage.

    Nnene-Anochie, who was represented by SPDC’s Compliance Monitoring Leader, Temitope Ajibade said the company was worried by the continuous increase in cases of sabotage and theft.

    “Oil spills due to theft and sabotage of facilities as well as illegal refining, cause the most environmental damage from oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta.

    “SPDC removed more than 1,160 illegal theft points from its pipelines between 2012 and end of 2018.

    “The attendant spills from the theft points are sometimes made worse by challenges of access to the incident sites to investigate and stop leaks.

    “We track the progress of our spill response from when we learn about the leak to when clean-up is completed and certified by regulators,” she said.

    Nnene-Anochie said that one of the key priority for Shell companies in Nigeria remained to achieve the goal of no spills from its operations.

    “No spill is acceptable, we work hard to prevent them. However, SPDC cleans and remediates areas impacted by spills from its facilities irrespective of the cause,” she said. (NAN)

  • GIZ, IFAD train VCDP farmers in Niger on financial literacy

    he German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will train 2,000 farmers in Niger on financial literacy.

    The  farmers were drawn from the 16,000 farmers currently participating in the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for rice and cassava in the state.

    Mr Mathew Adetunji, GIZ representative made this known while opening a four-day training for the farmers on Monday in Minna.

    Adetunji said that the training would enable the farmers know the necessary steps in accessing financial services around them.

    “Over 60 per cent of farmers across Nigeria are not financially literate. This situation had caused them to lose opportunities to access loans.

    “That is why we are training farmers in Niger State in farmers financial cycle. It is about having the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their finances wisely.

    “We realized that most of the farmers do not know how to access financial services. The financial literacy of farmers in Nigeria is about 45 per cent,” he said.

    Adetunji said that the training would enlighten the farmers on the formal financial services and products available to them.

    Dr Mathew Ahmed, the state Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP said farmers would be linked to financial institutions after the training where they could access soft loans.

    “Farmers are always complaining that they are unable to access credit and they cannot do agriculture without having credit facilities advanced to them.

    “We will link them with financial institutions and track the way the loans are utilised,” Ahmed said.

    He said financially literate would help the farmers save money for the future, borrow money responsibly, invest wisely and make informed decisions regarding financial products and services.

    “The knowledge, skills and confidence gained during the course will help them expand their agri-business and other aspects of their lives,” Ahmed said.

    He urged the farmers to look at agriculture as a business, adding that they should utilize the various financial windows provided by government.

    “You need to change your mindset of seeing farming as anything other than a business. If you do not take agriculture as a business, you will find it difficult to get loans,” Ahmed said.

    Hajiya Fati Abdullahi, a farmer, who thanked the GIZ and IFAD for the gesture, said that the training would increase her financial management skills.

  • NIPR to set up tribunal to check professional misconduct — Sirajo

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) says plans are on to establish a tribunal to ensure there is sanity in the Public Relation profession.

    Malam Mukhtar Sirajo, President of NIPR said this in Abuja on Friday while receiving the report of the Policy and Strategic Committee of NIPR saddled with the responsibility of producing a blueprint for restructuring of the institute.

    Sirajo said that the restructuring had become long overdue considering the problems bedeviling the institute and that of disunity and criminality bedeviling the country.

    According to Sirajo, the tribunal will help the institute to regulate its activities and that of its members.

    “We have written a letter to the minister of justice to establish a tribunal as mandated by the act that established NIPR to prosecute people who are practicing the profession without license.

    “Already, our dragnet is catching people who not only go about practicing without certification but even organise training in the name of NIPR and issue certificates and they are not known to the institute.

    “We are already in court with some of them.

    “The mandate of the Policy and Strategic Committee is to take a critical look at NIPR activities and find out what they think that is making it not to grow as fast as it should and proffer solution.

    “The idea of setting up this committee was because we realised that things were not in order.

    “We have sister institutes around the world and we see what respect they are given, and we ask ourselves why can’t we have one-quarter of that respect here in our own country?

    “We can as well go home and begin to play the blame-game that government is not doing anything and so on.

    “But I believe in the maxim that says that when you point accusing finger, four others are pointing at you.

    “We realised that the problem is not about government but rather a systemic one and we as part of that system have our own problem.

    “So, the best way to solve it is to accept that there is problem,” Sirajo said.

    He assured that the institute through its council would ensure the report was put into use to reposition NIPR.

    Chairman of the committee Prof. Tony Iredia said they were eager to see a transformed NIPR and as such the need for the report.

    Iredia said: “The work of this committee is to ensure NIPR has a formidable policy and method of implementing the policy.

    ”That is what strategy is all about and that is why this committee was set up to energise the NIPR.

    “So much has happened in the past and many people have asked questions such as who is an NIPR member and who is not supposed to be, and so on.

    “All these questions have been asked and in tackling the policies and strategies for creating such policies we have taken cognisance of the state of affairs that portrays the realities on ground.

    “We are committed to transform this body into a respectable professional body in Nigeria, that is why we came up with this report and council should look through and make their decision.”

    He noted that time had come for the institute to ensure those practicing Public Relations had the professional competence to do so.

    Dr Ike Neliaku, a fellow of NIPR and Secretary of the Policy and Strategic Committee said the institute had also through its “master class” programme harvested and harnessed practitioners of Public Relations across the country who were practicing illegally.

    This, Neliaku said, was also part of effort to maintain professionalism in the profession.

    “Unless you are regulated, registered and authorised to practice by NIPR, you are a quack, you don’t exist and it is actually an offence under the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of its own, Mrs Ebere Agozie, was among the no fewer than 60 PR practitioners inducted on Friday after a rigorous training. (NAN)

  • Group decries insinuations of distrust between Buhari, Osinbajo

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Initiative to Save Democracy, a pressure group, says that the relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo remains mutually respectful.

    The group’s President, Mr Oladele Peter, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, condemned individuals and groups sowing seeds of discord between both leaders.

    The statement came at the heels of speculations about a crack in the relationship between Buhari and  Osinbajo,

    “As much as we know, the relationship between the president and the vice president remains cordial and any group or individual insinuating otherwise should desist as this is capable of distracting the leadership of the country and plunging the nation into political crisis.”

    He attributed the development to some faceless elements desperate for power, adding that the group had uncovered another plot by the same individuals to make public some fake documents with the aim of defaming Osinbajo.

    Peter, however, assured that the attempts of the elements would remain futile, noting as the truth about everything would eventually come to light.

    “What all these point to is what seems a likely continuation of the failed Dubai Strategy of opposition elements, or at least something comparable to it.

    “Whatever it is, it would also be seen for what it is, baseless and without any substance and doomed on arrival.”

    On reactions by Femi Fani-Kayode, Oladele  said that the former aviation minister’s claims were total lies.

    “It is total fabrication of lies; Fani-Kayode should substantiate the claim about the secrets the vice president has with former NIA Director-General, Amb. Ayo Oke.

    “When 43 million dollar, N23 million, 27,800 pounds were found in the possession of the former director-general, Osinbajo insisted that he should explain himself and defend himself of the charges.”

    Peter described as ridiculous claims by Fani-Kayode that Osinbajo had been demoted or humiliated as a result of the recent development in the presidency.

    According to him, the president has simply adopted a different strategy as he is entitled to how he manages the Federal Government’s economic management affairs.

    “The vice president continues to be Chairman of the National Economic Council by virtue of the Constitution.

    “This is the organ that oversees the economic affairs of the federation.

    “As a matter of fact, Osinbajo will be presiding over the meeting of the National Economic Council(NEC), tomorrow.”

    He urged Osinbajo to remain focused in his efforts to ensure a better and stronger Nigeria.

    Peter implored Nigerians to disregard utterances and comments by those he described as ‘agents of disunity and destruction’.

    “Attempts to sow seeds of discord between the vice president and the president will fail and already failing because both of them have a mutually respectful relationship.

    “The vice president does not need Fani-Kayode’s help and that of other foolish pretenders, whom when they had the opportunities to serve in public, made a mess of national and economic affairs, compelling the Nigerian people to sack Fani-Kayode and his infamous party.”

    Responding to comments credited to the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Oladele said the views of spokesman for the group, Mr Yinka Odumakin, was unfortunate and not surprising given Odumakin’s antecedence.

    “It is laughable to conclude that Office of the Vice President occupied by Osinbajo has been rendered impotent and irrelevant.

    “As already stated, Osinbajo will chair tomorrow’s NEC, an important body recognised by the Constitution of Nigeria, especially in taking decisions affecting the entirety of the country including the states.

    “It is pertinent to note that Osinbajo has not been removed from office, and contrary to what Odumakin wants Nigerians to believe, the vice president has not been indicted or found wanting,” he said.

  • Abang retires as Director, gets new job — AUDA-NEPAD Boss

    Abang retires as Director, gets new job — AUDA-NEPAD Boss

    Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator, Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development/ African Peer Review Mechanism(AUDA-NEPAD/APRM)Nigeria, says Mr. Emmanuel Abang has been appointed as her Senior Special Assistant (S.S.A) with immediate effect.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Abolade Ogundimu, Media Assistant to NC/C.E.O, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria.

    Akobundu made the announcement at a send forth organised for Abang on Wednesday by staff of AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria at its headquarters, Abuja.

    Dr. Abang retires on Thursday, Sept.19 as the Director, Programme Development and Implementation (PDI) Department of the agency.

    The event was attended by Abang’s friends, colleagues, former colleagues and well wishers.

    According to the C.E.O, diligent and thorough individuals are rare and should be preserved for better growth of any organisation.

    “Good work will always be rewarded, Abang was devoted to any assigned task and he always bring results.

    ” As he goes into retirement after 35 meritorious years in service, I hereby announce his appointment as my Senior Special Assistant.

    “Every civil servant’s wish is to grow in service and retire happily.

    ” But we should stop losing people that add great values to the society when they are still vibrant and relevant to societal growth,” she said.

    Akobundu commended the outgoing Director for his immense contribution to the ongoing transformation of NEPAD to AUDA in Nigeria.

    “We started the process together and we must finish together,” she said.

    The National Coordinator said launching of new logo and official transformation of the agency would be announced soon.

    AUDA-NEPAD/APRM team will be making presentations to participants at the sideline of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 25.

    Earlier, Dr. Abang’s former colleagues and friends took turn to shower glowing encomium on him as he retires from service.

    Alhaji Ahmad Ibrahim, his counterpart in Project Research and Statistics (PRS)/Department of the agency congratulated him for successful exit from service.

    “There is need to thank God for seeing you through 35 years of active service. I wish you greater joy in retirement,” he said.

    Alhaji Ibrahim will also join the league of senior citizens as he retires on Sept.24.

    Mr. David Attah, Director, Special Services,Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(OSGF) gave enviable description of his friend and former colleague, Mr. Abang.

    “He is a selfless man, he doesn’t think about himself alone but beyond that, he is competent”.

    Also, Mr. Yinka Aguda, Director, General Services,OSGF described the Director, PDI, AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria as a rare breed.

    Barrister More Soyinka-Onijala, Director, Public Private Partnership, Federal Ministry of Finance, described Mr. Abang as a motivator.

    ” I joined civil service late but I was fortunate to have met someone like him to put me through.

    “Thank God for his concern as I could have missed opportunity of writing promotion exam after my confirmation in the service.

    “While many others said I didn’t need to write the next promotion exam being a professional (lawyer) he said “No” and ensured I wrote the exam,which qualified me for higher positions,” the daughter of Africa’s first Nobel laureate said.

    Others who came to witness the send forth were: Obong Ndueso, Assistant Director, Fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Uwem Asomugha,Director, ICT, Federal Ministry of Education.

    Also, Barrister Oladele Asowo, Elder Akpama Basset and Grace Ngbeahuruine, Office of the Head of Civil Service.

    Ms Esther Benjamin Yepwi, a staffer of PDI Department, AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, described Mr. Abang as her mentor.

    “Through him, I acquired many skills on the job. Those skills are really helping me to be more resourceful.

    ” I will miss him for his encouragement to all especially, the subordinate colleagues, ” she noted.

    In his response to messages and good wishes poured on him, Dr. Abang thank God for seeing him.through.

    “I thank God for seeing me through the ups and downs of public service in the last 35 years.

    ” I also thank my boss, Hon.Princess Akobundu for appreciating my efforts as a Director in PDI.

    “She gave me adequate support to achieve whatever I might have achieved in this agency.

    ” If you’re hardworking and resourceful, you will be her friend. But if you are lazy, she will put you back on track,” he said.

    His advice to those he would be leaving in service was succinct.

    “Acquire as much knowledge as you can,network with those you meet and be grateful to God always”.

    Abang’s message to the policy makers in the country goes thus: “think more on how to reduce poverty and illiteracy in the land”.

    Miss Josephine Abang, daughter of Dr.Abang confirmed those good virtues were part of her dad even at home.

    ” My dad is hardworking, he believes you deserve all the reward that you get for working hard.

    “He does not condone indiscipline and he is
    very supportive to everyone’s development,” she said.

    Dr. Abang joined AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria in September, 24,2019 as Director, PDI, his last posting before bowing out from civil service.

    Princess Akobundu expressed confidence in his ability to even contribute more towards development of the agency.

     

  • CANMPEF: Dangote says Nigerian economy will blossom …hails New Economic Advisory Council

    President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has commended the new Economic Advisory Council (EAC) constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari to advise him on the nation’s economic growth and overall development describing the move as a proactive one, which is capable of elevating Nigeria’s economy to greater heights.

    Dangote, who spoke as the Chairman at the commissioning ceremony of the new Secretariat of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation (CANMPEF) said “the constitution of the Economic Advisory Council is a proactive move, by putting together tested and respected patriots, who are independent and always ready to put the country’s interest first and ahead of themselves.”

    He then urged the Federal Government to take advantage of this rare opportunity to strengthen the economy and put the country on the path of growth, job creation and competitiveness, while also calling on all stakeholders to work with the Federal Government to revive and restore the economy on the path of growth.

    According to him, the government should continue to provide the enabling environment which it had set out to do so that the private sector would continue to thrive as the way to go in the next level.  

    The foremost entrepreneur, described CANMPEF as the largest employers of labour, having members spread across many sectors and commended the leadership of the Federation for its achievements so far.

    He also charged the leadership not to rest on its oars but to sustain the momentum in the overall benefits of the workers and employer members of the Federation. Dangote said his companies would continue to play their roles as leaders in their respective sector so the CANMPEF would be taken to the next level in line with the present administration’s economic agenda.

     

    In her remark, the Minister of State for Industries, Trade and Investments, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, who represented her minister, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo said the government would continue to initiate the necessary right policy that would propel the private sector members to thrive as the drivers of the economy.

    She stated that the federal government was not unmindful of the challenges beiing faced by the private sector and that with the next level agenda, all obstacles would be tackle and the economy would improve for the better.

    Ambassador Katagum explained that the Federal government shared in the ideals of the CANMPEF and urged all members to adhere strictly with the safety and environmental rules.

    In his own remark, President of CANMPEF, Mr. Devakumar Edwin said the new building was another on several steps being taken by CANMPEF leadership to have right atmosphere to discharge its obligations to its members, workers and the government.

    He stated that the Federation plays critical roles of keeping members informed of the existing labour legislations and serve as platform to protect the interests of member companies against any development in the macro-economic environment threatening business survival.

    Edwin also said the leadership of CANMPEF has been able to provide the platform for members to discuss and share experience in the field of industrial relations, policy strategies, human resource and personnel management.  

  • Acting Head of Service Yemi-Esan takes over from Oyo-Ita

    The Acting Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, has assumed office on Thursday.

    In a statement issued by Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, the Director, Information office of HCSF, said Yemi-Esan assumed duty at about 6.40 p.m. after she was received by the members of staff of the office.

    According to Ogunmosunle, Yemi–Esan in her remarks acknowledged the hard work and dedication to duty of her predecessor and promised to build on Mrs Winifred Oyo–Ita’s achievements.

    “There is no reinventing the will. I will only build on the sound foundation and structure which she has left behind because government is a continuum,” the statement quoted the new HoS saying.

    The acting HCSF solicited for sustained cooperation and support given to the outgoing HCSF.

    Ogunmosunle said Mrs Winifred Oyo–Ita, the outgoing HCSF, in her handing over speech, said her almost four years as the HCSF has been interesting and eventful.

    Oyo-Ita presented a 153-page handing over note with an annexure; signifying the depth of work in the office of the HCSF.

    The director of information said Oyo–Ita thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the opportunity to serve.

    She said further that Oyo-Ita had acknowledged that government was a continuum and encouraged the incoming HCSF to build on what she had done.

    The handing over ceremony was witnessed by Permanent Secretaries, Directors and other management staff in the office of HCSF.

    It would be recalled that the president had on Sept. 18, approved the appointment of Yemi-Esan as the Acting HCSF with immediate effect.

    The development followed the directive given to Oyo-Ita to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

  • How Nigeria spends $1.2bn to import fish annually – Emefiele

    The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele says about 1.2 billion dollars worth of fish is imported into the country annually.

    Emefiele disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing some state Governors and the media on the feat recorded so far in agriculture for economic growth.

    He explained that current fish production stood at 0.8 million tons while the demand was 2.7 million tons, giving a deficit of 1.9 million tons.

    He said the apex bank’s current initiative was to enagage the coastal state governors to develop the blue economy to address the deficit of 1.9metric tons as well as eradicate the huge import bill for fish.

    According to him, this is a very huge economic opportunity for the states to create an enabling environment for investors.

    In a similar development, the governor said that major innovation to deepen the poultry business was the recent partnership between the bank and tertiary institutions to pilot the “The University–Based Poultry Production Programme” in twelve 12 Universities across the six geo-political zones.

    He added that the objective was not only building future agripreneurs but making the universities able to improve their internally generated revenue.

    “For the pilot phase, five Nigerian Universities, namely; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Ilorin were enrolled.

    “These Universities have submitted revised proposal to their respective sponsoring banks,” he said.