2.5m New Jobs Created in 2 Years - NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that 2.48 million new jobs were created in the Nigerian economy between the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2014.

The Statistician General for the Federation and chief executive of the NBS, Dr Yemi Kale, made the disclosure in Abuja while speaking at a workshop on the review of definition and methodology for computing unemployment statistics in Nigeria.

According to him, the highest number of jobs were created in the informal sector with 1.41 million, followed by the formal sector with 903,804 jobs, and public institutions with 160,591.

Dr Kale also disclosed that a total number of 240,871 jobs were created in the first quarter of this year, indicating a decline of 10.3 per cent from the previous quarter, which recorded 265,702 jobs.

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FG Approves Creation of Great Green Wall Agency

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of the Great Green Wall Agency (GGW).

 

Vice President Namadi Sambo made this known yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a meeting of the National Council on the Great Green. He noted that the GGW was a project the President intends to use to impact positively on the welfare of the society.

 

He commended the private sector for their participation in the project, and advocated for youth involvement in the project.

 

“More youths should be employed to guard the forests so that our investments will be fully protected,” he said.

 

The Vice President also stressed the need for a strategic national plan and approach that will address the socio-economic situation of the nation, adding that the plan should include local community participation to ensure the success of the programme.

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Teachers and School Administrators in FCT Begin One-Year Training

School teachers and administrators in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday commenced a one-year training to improve their capacity.

The training programme is organized by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) in partnership with the Felicity International Centre for Education Excellence.

At the opening ceremony of the event which held in Abuja, FCT UBEB Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ningi, represented by the board’s Permanent Secretary 1, Mr Benjamin Ogbara, stressed the need for stakeholders in the education sector to constantly undergo training that will enhance their performance to meet international best standard.

 

He promised that the board will continue to collaborate with other stakeholders in the sector to improve the standard of education in the FCT.

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FCTA Set to Clampdown Unpainted Commercial Vehicles

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed its readiness to clampdown on commercial vehicles that are not painted the specified colours.

The Head, Public Relations Unit of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Mr Ifeanyi Ughamadu, made this known to newsmen in Abuja recently. He noted that the deadline for the registration of unpainted commercial vehicles is 1 October, after which the hunt will begin.

He added that all commercial drivers are expected to register with any of the recognised licensed taxi operators, and the secretariat would have their data captured.

“The FCTA has directed the Vehicle Inspection Office and other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for enforcement,” he said. “Any `kabu kabu’ that violates the law will be apprehended.”

Mr Ughamadu added that the secretariat came up with a policy in order to curb crime perpetuated by taxi drivers in the territory.

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FG Launches Road Safety Manual

The federal government has launched a road safety guidelines developed by the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI.)

 

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, launched the document yesterday in Abuja.

 

“It is my belief that the first edition of the Road Safety Guidelines (RSG2014) which provides information specifically for the country and sets out standard approach to accident data analysis will go a long way to help address some of the developmental challenges we face in the road sector,” he said.

 

Mr Onolememen stressed the need for relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to collaborate in a bid to ensure safety on the roads.

 

The guidelines will serve as a reference document for engineering education and enforcement, and to develop a safe-road network system in Nigeria.

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FCTA to Open Zuba Cottage Hospital in 2015

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that it would launch Zuba Cottage in 2015.

 

The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA, Dr. Demola Onakomaika made the disclosure in Abuja recently, while speaking to journalists. He said an supplementary building and the employment of qualified staff are some of the issues delaying the launch of the hospital.

 

“The Zuba case is not abandoned because of the high rate attrition by the healthcare workers in FCT due to the cost of living. This people as soon as they get employment in other places they will leave, last year over 400 left,” he explained.

 

He further explained that the auxiliary building, which is meant to be a staff quarters, was not initially captured in the design of the hospital but was now being added, hence the delay in its opening.

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FG Launches E- Curriculum Portal for Schools

The federal government has launched an e-curriculum portal to help teachers and students in primary, junior and senior secondary schools in the country.

 

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, who launched the portal yesterday in Abuja, revealed that it was developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and SIDMACH Technologies Nigeria Limited to address the shortage of the national curricula in schools.

 

“The NERDC e-curriculum portal is a web-based, efficient and effective curriculum management solution for primary and secondary schools,” he said. “This solution will provide digital access to school curricula, provision of sample teaching resources for teachers to prepare lesson notes, provision of sample learning materials for the learners.”

 

 “The portal will provide the teachers across Nigeria to compare notes learn new methods of teaching, build capacity through collaborative teaching resources provided on the portal from time to time,” he added.

 

He called on stakeholders in the curriculum implementation in both government and private educational institutions to support the project and continue to strengthen the quality of the education sector.

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AEDC Procures 23 Vehicles to Boost Service Delivery

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has recently purchased 18 Toyota Hilux trucks and five Kia Sedan cars in order to improve service delivery to its customers in Abuja, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states.

At the launch of the vehicles in Abuja, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Neil Croucher, said the procurement of the vehicles, which cost N106, 523,876, was in line with the company’s promise to deliver efficient service in its coverage area.

“Given the very poor state of facilities in our coverage area as at the time we took over management of the company last year, we strongly felt we need to deploy new vehicles like these ones to fast track our responses to complaints by our customers,” he said.

“As you are already aware, we (at AEDC) are investing massively in improving the quality of equipment on our network, and I am delighted by the kind of responses we are getting from our customers on the noticeable improvement in service delivery,” he added.

He however noted that there was still a lot to be done but stressed that the company was willing to continue to improve its services.

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Nigeria’s Electricity Generation Rises to 4500 MW

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said that Nigeria’s electricity generation profile has risen to about 4500 megawatts.

 

Prof Nebo who made the disclosure in Abuja yesterday said that the improvement  was partly aided by the  construction of a 700MW combined cycle power plant in Bayelsa State.

 

He also attributed the boost in electricity generation and distribution in the country to increase in gas supply to thermal generation plants.

 

“I am very sure that some of you if not all of you would have noticed that within the past few weeks we have averaged about 4,500MW of power delivery and it has been stable,” he said. “And that means that most of you are now getting better power supply than you have had in the recent past.

 

Gas is now coming in and we are expecting even a lot more of gas.”

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FCT Minister Pledges to Pursue Pro-People Projects

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that his administration will continue to strive to complete all people-oriented projects in the territory.

The minister who made the promise at the weekend in Abuja, debunked rumours that the FCT administration plans to discontinue the community and social development initiative.

“The FCT administration under my watch will continue to support any programme or project that is in conformity with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan because Mr President sent me here to represent him,” he said.

“The community and social development projects initiative is concerned with the empowerment of communities to develop, implement and monitor micro-social infrastructure projects including natural-resource management interventions as well as strengthening of the skills and capacity of grassroots tiers of government to support communities with a view to improving their standard of living,” he added.

He further stated that instead of abandoning the projects, his administration has sped up work on them, adding that the FCTA will sustain partnership with global financial institutions, towards bringing more development on the doorsteps of the far-flung rural dwellers in Abuja.

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Ebola: Jonathan Pays Tribute to Infected Medical Personnel

President Goodluck Jonathan has paid tribute to the medical personnel who got infected with the Ebola Virus Disease after treating the late Liberian, Mr Patrick Sawyer.

 

President Jonathan gave the commendation yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at an occasion to mark the World Humanitarian Day. The president who was  represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo also commiserated with the families of the affected personnel, and promised those still alive would get the best medical attention.

 

“I want to use this occasion to salute the courage of these medical personnel and condole with the families of those that lost their lives,” he said.

“Government is doing everything possible to ensure that those still alive get the best medical attention while praying to God to save their lives,” he added. 

 

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Police Promotes 8 to DIG

The Police Service Commission yesterday approved the promotion of six Assistant Inspectors – General of Police (AIG) and two Commissioners of Police (CP) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors – General of Police.

 

This was revealed in a statement yesterday by the Assistant Director of Public Relations of the commission, Mr Ferdinand Ekpe. According to the statement, the AIGs promoted are Dan’Azumi Job Doma, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, David O. Omojola, Solomon E. Arase, Christopher K. Katso and Salihu Argungu Hashidu. Meanwhile, the Commissioners of Police promoted are Hilary Opara and Sotonye L. Wakama.

 

It said that the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Mike Okiro, while congratulating the newly promoted officers enjoined them to see their elevation as opportunity to serve the nation. He also urged them to use their experience in uplifting the Nigeria Police Force.

 

The promotions are with effect from 19^th August 2014.

 

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Nigeria Records 5th Death from Ebola

The Federal Ministry of Health has announced the death of a female consultant physician in Lagos from the Ebola Virus Disease.

 

This was made known in a statement yesterday by Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister of Health, Mr Dan Nwomeh.

 

The statement said the physician who died last evening was one of the primary contacts of the Mr Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who brought the disease to Nigeria. It added that she was one of the most senior doctors who participated in the management of the Liberian.

 

This, the statement said, brings to five the total number of deaths from Ebola in Nigeria.

 

The other two patients currently under treatment in the isolation wards are stable and are being taken care of, it said.

 

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FCT Minister Launches N3bn Apo Housing Estate

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has launched 49 highly luxury apartments named the “AICL Apo Dutse Housing Estate”.

Speaking at the occasion, the minister, who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, revealed that the Estate was constructed at the total cost of N3 billion within a period of two years.

 

 “I am glad to recall that two years ago, I had personally encouraged Abuja Investment to embark on the AICL Apo-Dutse Housing Estate and to deliver on record time. So, this is heartwarming that the dream project has become a reality.”

 

He added that the FCT Administration through the Abuja Investment embarked on these houses to tackle housing deficit in the Territory in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

 

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AEDC to Boost Power Supply in FCT with $200m

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said it would commit $200 million in five years to enhance power supply and distribution in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger states

The Managing Director AEDC, Mr Neil Croucher, made this known in Abuja at the weekend while receiving officials of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), led by its the FCT Chairman, Dr. Wasilat Shittu.

Mr Croucher said that about 20 injection substations would soon be launched by his company in order to tackle the issue of low voltage being experienced in some the states.

He noted that the challenges being experienced in power supply are due to the poor equipment that the AEDC inherited. It added that the company is willing to make huge investments to improve the situation.

AEDC and MAN agreed to work together towards improving power supply to industrial sites in the FCT.

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Collection of PVC in FCT to End Tomorrow

The collection of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will end tomorrow, 19 August.

This was contained in a statement yesterday by Head, Voter Education and Publicity, of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Okezie Nwankwo.

The statement announced the extension of the date by two more days after the initial exercise ended on 17 August. It said the extension was to give more people the opportunity to get the cards, adding that the time for the collection of the cards remained between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Other states in which the exercise was extended are Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Kwara. Others are Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta, and Cross River.

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SURE-P to Donate N10bn to Abuja Light Rail Project

The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has said it is set to donate the sum of N10 billion towards the completion of the Abuja light rail project.

The Chairman of SURE-P, Gen. Martin-Lurther Agwai (Rtd) made this known to newsmen over the weekend in Abuja after an inspection of the project. He said that SURE-P’s support of the project was to ensure its quick completion.

He noted that the rail line, when finished, would reduce the burden on road transport system and enhance economic and social activities in the country

Gen Agwai (Rtd) expressed satisfaction with the engineering design of the project and applauded the Transport Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the effort.

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Ebola: FG to Disinfect Homes, Offices, Hospitals

Responding to the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease, the Federal Govern­ment has made plans to disinfect homes, hospitals, offices, and hotels in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, and other densely populated states.

 

The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurencia Mallam, who made this known yesterday in Abuja, also said “We are in touch with the various states of the federa­tion for the implementation of a massive disinfection of homes, offices, hospitals, ho­tels and indeed public places infested with bats, rats and other pets.”

 

She added that government was working to bring animals that assist in the spreading the disease under control.

 

 “The control of animals implicated in the spread of this disease, especially fruit bats, which are so numer­ous in many parts of urban cities, such as Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, to mention but a few, is now our major concern,” she said.

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NMA Tells Members to Insist on Protective Equipment

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has advised doctors and nurses in the country to demand for protective equipment before treating Ebola patients.

The advice was contained in a statement today by the Secretary-General of the NMA, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki. The statement noted that doctors, nurses and other health workers in the frontline of caring for patients have been falling victims of the disease.

“Government at all levels, chief medical directors/medical directors and proprietors of private hospitals are hereby reminded that this is not the time to subject doctors and nurses, and indeed other health workers, to unnecessary hazards,” it said.

It added that it would not be out of place for government to institute a well packaged life insurance policy for all health workers, particularly all those involved in this battle against Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

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