FCTA Indigenes to Bestow Highest Traditional Title on Jonathan

Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the auspices of the FCT Indigenes Coalition Groups for Jonathan, are planning to confer the highest traditional title in Abuja on President Goodluck Jonathan.

The coordinator of the group, Engr. Bussa Danjuma, who spoke to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said the traditional title would further boost the confidence of Abuja natives to massively support the president in the 2015 presidential elections.

“We have no gold and silver to appreciate Mr. President for the laudable things he has done through the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed,” he said. “The only way to say thank you is to confer the highest traditional title in the land on him. To us this title will be more indelible than any material gift.”

 

Mr Danjuma urged Nigerians to support the continuity of the policy thrust of the present administration, noting that it has bettered the wellbeing of Nigerians.

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Nigeria’s New E-Passport to Begin Friday

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday inaugurated Nigeria’s new 64-page e-passport, which takes effect from Friday, 1 August.

 

Speaking at the launch which took place before Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the pages of the traveling document was increased from 32 to 64 to cater to frequent travelers who often changed their passport due to limited pages for visa.

“One thing one must know today is that it is not the issue of 64-page passport that is key to Nigerians but the security. If our passport could be easily faked by criminals, then we will have problems,” he said.

He called on officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service to protect the integrity of the passport by making sure that it would be difficult for anyone to fake.

The president and Vice President Namadi Sambo then took turns to be captured in order to be issued with the new traveling document.

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DFID Invests N250m in Agric in FCT and Sokoto

The Department for International Development has committed N250 million to the enhancement of agriculture in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Sokoto State for the year 2014.

The Country Director, International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Mr. Scott Wallace made this known to newsmen in Sokoto recently. He said that fund was specifically for the Growth Enhancement Support Touch and Pay (GES-TAP) scheme.

“This pilot scheme introduced in Sokoto and Abuja is meant to prove that this GES-TAP concept can work without network and mobile phones,” he said.

Mr Wallace noted that while DFID provided the funds for the programme, IFDC will ensure its implementation.

TAP uses mobile technology to connect online and offline farmers to their local agricultural dealers. It is an e-voucher scheme that uses tablet and smartcard technology to register farmers, record and transfer biometric data, and deliver vouchers to eligible farmers and agricultural dealers.

 

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NDE Trains 100 in FCT

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has begun a six-month, in-house training in various trades at its new Model Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre, Kuduru, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

The Coordinator of the NDE in the FCT, Mr. Oludare Newton, at the commencement of the training recently, noted that the directorate was changing from training its participants through individual master trainers to a more formal school setting, which will be carried out at the skills centre.

 

He assured the trainees of the commitment of the NDE to the success of the pilot training, and urged to adhere to rules of the camp, as failure to do so will lead to expulsion.

 

The participants will be trained in eight trades including computer engineering, plumbing, auto-tronics, furniture making, metal fabrication, GSM services, fashion design, and electrical installation.

 

Accommodation and feeding will be provided at the camp for the participants in the duration of their training.

 

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NTDC to Launch ‘Tour Abuja City’ Project

The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) is set to launch the ‘Tour Abuja City’ project.

 

The Director-General of the NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, made this known yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-day NTDC staff retreat held at the Village Hall of the corporation in Abuja. The project which is a collaboration between the NTDC and the ABC Transport company, she said, is aimed at promoting domestic tourism in Nigeria.

 

Mrs Mbanefo further revealed that the transport company has assigned two sight-seeing buses to the project to take Abuja residents from one tourist destination to the other, adding that, “the buses will pick people from nine designated bus stops to 24 tourist sites/landmarks in Abuja city.”

The project is expected to commence in August.

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Nigeria, US Sign MoU for $2.5bn Power Plant

The federal government and the United States (US) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a $2.5bn Power Plant in Anambra State.

The MoU which is part of the US president’s Power Africa Initiative was signed yesterday in Abuja by the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo and the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, on behalf of both countries.

During the signing ceremony, Mr Entwistle explained that the Power Africa initiative is about transforming the lives of Africans through increased job opportunities to be created from better electricity supply.

Following the agreement, at least 1, 5000 megawatts (mws) of electricity is expected to be added to the national grid. In addition, a 70mws solar manufacturing plant to be built in Nigeria.

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NFF to Meet Today in Abuja

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet today in Abuja to review Nigeria's participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, amongst other issues.

 

Head of Communications of the NFF, Mr Ademola Olajire told newsmen yesterday that the matter of head coach for the Super Eagles is one of the issues on the agenda of today’s meeting.

 

“The body will also discuss the issue of technical crew for the Senior National Team, Super Eagles, as the qualifying series for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations knock on the door, as well as deliberate on the preparation of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, for the 9th African Women Championship in Namibia in October this year,” he said.

 

“The 2014 Annual General Assembly of the federation, which is the elective congress to usher in a new set of executives for the next four years, is another major topic that will stretch today's meeting,” he added.

 

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Jonathan Stresses Need for Stronger Partnership between OPEC Nations

President Goodluck Jonathan has stressed the need for a stronger and more cooperative partnership between Nigeria and other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The President stated this yesterday in Abuja after having separate meetings with the new ambassadors of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria, according to a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Mr Reuben Abati.

 

“Such partnerships will improve the decision-making process within OPEC and open up more opportunities for investment and socio-economic collaboration among its members,” the President said.

 

The President told the new Ambassador of the UAE, Mr. Mahmud Mohammed Mahmud Al-Mahumud and the new Qatari Ambassador, Mr. Abdul Aziz Bin Mubarak Seed Al Muhannadi that the diplomatic and political relationship between Nigeria and other OPEC member-countries ought to be translated into more beneficial engagements.

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CBN Cautions Banks on Human Rights

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised banks and financial institutions in the country to acknowledge their employees’ rights to safe and reasonable working conditions.

The CBN gave the advice in a letter posted on its website yesterday. The letter signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, noted that banks, discount houses and development finance institutions were not complying with the spirit and letters of principle three of the Nigerian Sustainability Banking Principles (NSBP) on ‘Human Rights’ which states that “we will respect human rights in our business operations and business activities.”

It added that a bank’s approach to human rights should be consistent with promoting the requirements, and improving the enforcement of the Nigerian Constitution, the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and other international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

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Tambuwal Advises FG to Negotiate With Boko Haram for Chibok Girls

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, has called on the federal government to negotiate with Boko Haram in order to secure the release of the abducted Chibok girls.

The speaker made the call yesterday at the National Assembly while receiving members of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The Speaker said he had made his position on the situation known last year in Kano.

“If negotiating is what will bring back, for instance, our Chibok girls, then for God’s sake, we should negotiate,” he said. “Negotiating does not just mean you are submitting; you are not. It is just a strategy. Whatever we have to do we must do, to bring back these girls safe and alive,” he added.

The Speaker also called security operatives to be civil in dealing with the #BringBackOurGirls group.

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Senate Passes N271.5bn, FCT 2014 Budget

The Senate on Tuesday passed N271.1 budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the year 2014.

The budget include N161.8 billion as capital expenditure, N109.2 billion as recurrent expenditure, N60.037 billion as overhead cost and N49.2 billion as personnel cost.

The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Domingo Obende, explained that the sum of N16 billion was set aside for the development of the health sector, including the provision of free antenatal treatment and ante retro-viral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients.He added N6 billion was allocated for administration of security in the FCT, while N19.8 billion had been allocated for roads and electricity projects in satellite towns such as Kubwa, Karu, Karshi, and others.

 

Senator Obende further revealed that N31 billion has been budgeted for provision of light rail and high capacity buses in the capital city.

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Abuja Traders to Shut Markets, Plazas Tomorrow

The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), will close all markets and shopping plazas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday in honour of the victims of the June 25 EMAB Plaza blast.

The President of NANTS, Mr Ken. Ukaoha made this to newsmen yesterday in Abuja. He said that markets and plazas would be closed until 12 noon tomorrow.

“It is very worrisome that the bombing of markets and plazas and commercial places is gradually becoming the order of the day in the country to the point that people are now scared of going to markets,” he said.

He added that the association plans to direct its FCT division to coordinate a solidarity programme that would assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of the affected victims.

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NUC, CVC Establish Research Foundation

The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) of Nigerian Universities have established a foundation that will enhance learning and research in tertiary institutions in the Nigeria.

This was made known at the commissioning of the Nigerian Research and Education Network, (NgREN) which took place yesterday at the NUC office in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, and chairman of NgREN board, Mr Julius Okojie, said the foundation aims to create a sophisticated infrastructural backbone to link all research and education institutions in Nigeria and connect them with other education and research networks around the world.

“The project will provide network services and applications such as identify federation, e-content, hosting, network security, bandwidth management, IP telephony, video-conferencing, among others to the research,” he said.

He said the foundation will provide cheaper bandwidth for member institutions and also establish a framework which will enable the sharing of resources.

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Council of State Wants Kidnapped Chibok Girls Rescued Alive

The Council of State which met on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, have resolved that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls be rescued alive.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Godswill Akpabio said President Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Mr Sambo Dasuki, updated the council on efforts towards the rescue of the abducted girls. He noted that it was not about whether the federal government could rescue the girls or not, but on how to rescue them alive.

“We are very satisfied the security agents know very well where the girls are located and they are on top of situation”, he said.

The meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan was attended by former Heads of State, including retired Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Others past Heads of State present at the meeting were former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and former presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo.

Also in attendance were the Senate President, David Mark, the Speaker House of Representatives Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwa, and former Chief Justices Mohammed Uwais and Alfa Belgore.

The meeting was also attended by the governors of Delta, Niger, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kaduna,Bayelsa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kogi, Enugu, Kebbi, Gombe, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba States, and the deputy governors Ondo, Ogun, Benue, Jigawa,  and Yobe States.

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FCTA Converts 4 Agencies to Departments

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday changed four agencies into departments.

This was contained in a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Mr Muhammad Sule. According to the statement, the affected agencies are: Agency for Mass Education, Agency for Science and Technology, FCT Emergency Management Agency, and Satellite Towns Development Agency.

The statement noted that the change occurred because all four agencies lacked the required laws to back their operations.

It added that all the heads of the affected agencies would from now on be referred to as directors and those heading departments under the agencies would be known as Heads of Divisions. The change, it further stated, will continue until appropriate laws are enacted by the National Assembly to back up the establishments of the departments.

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Nigeria/Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee to Meet in Abuja

The second session of the Nigeria/Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee will meet in Abuja between 8-11 July.

 

This was revealed in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Special Assistant, Media, to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Karounwi Adekunle. It said that the session would be organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the office of the NSA.

The statement quoted the Head of Nigerian Delegation, Maj-.Gen. Babatunde Samuel (Rtd), as saying that “the purpose of the second session is to move the cooperation of both countries to the next level.”

The statement also said that prior to the first session held last year in Yaounde, Cameroon, the Presidents of both countries resolved that there was need to deepen the bilateral relations between them, particularly in the area of security.

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ASUU, Others Approve Adikwu as New UniAbuja VC

Various unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT), have at separate meetings over the weekend endorsed the election of Prof. Michael Umale Adikwu as the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Abuja.

 The University of Abuja ASUU chairman, Dr. Ben Ugheoke who disclosed this on behalf of the other unions, said they had written the governing council and other relevant authorities, conveying their readiness to work together and cooperate with Prof. Adikwu in the interest of the institution.

 Meanwhile, it has denied reports that some lecturers have sued University of Abuja at the National Industrial Court over the accusation that the appointment of the third best candidate as the VC did not follow due process.

ASUU said that the Council did not break any law, particularly the university Autonomy Law, in the appointment of Prof. Adikwu, as the tradition in the appointment of VCs for the university has always favoured any one of the candidates in the final three-person list submitted to the Council.

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Security Operatives Stop #BringBackOurGirls Protesters from Entering Villa

Security operatives yesterday prevented the #BringBackOurGirls group from entering Presidential Villa.

The security men barricaded the road leading to the Villa, saying they have been ordered to stop the protesters who are demanding for the urgent rescue of the abducted Chibok girls.They however promised that the message of the group will be relayed to the relevant authorities.

 

One of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls group, Mrs. Aisha Yusufu, said that the group decided on the impromptu march during its daily sit-in to remind President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians that the abducted girls are still in captivity after 83 days.

 

Also at the protest was former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye.

 

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Ministry to Partner CBN on N220bn for Women

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is set to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that Nigerian women are included the financial system, by promoting financial inclusion through such initiatives as the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) and Agricultural Financing Scheme.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina who spoke over the weekend in Abuja, while receiving the executive members of the Nigerian Quintessential Business Women and the Association of Non-Bank Micro-finance Institution of Nigeria in her office, noted that the economic well-being of women was urgently required to guarantee their full participation in governance and decision-making.

The Minister noted that the economic well-being of women was necessary to guarantee their full participation in governance and decision-making.

“My dream is to see that Nigerian women become economically and politically empowered and independent, to enable them to contribute more meaningfully to national development endeavours,” she said. “This is because the most important independence anybody can acquire is economic independence. Once you are economically empowered, the sky is your limit.”

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