By Celine-Damilola Oyewole
Death
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has extended her condolences to the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and her family over the passing of her mother, Hajiya Maryam Albishir.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by her spokesperson, Bukola Kukoyi, First Lady Tinubu described the loss of Albishir as “deeply painful” for Mrs. Shettima and her family.
“I commiserate with Hajia Nana Shettima on the demise of her beloved mother, Hajia Maryam. Her passing is undoubtedly a painful one and a great personal loss to you and your family.
”During this difficult time, may Allah comfort you and may you find solace in the remembrance of her good deeds and virtues,” she stated.
The First Lady also extended her condolences to Professor Hafsat Ganduje on the passing of her mother, Hajiya Asiya Gauyama.
She acknowledged the sorrow that came with losing a mother, saying, “At this time of grief, may Allah comfort you and grant you and the entire family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
”May Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her Aljannah Firdaus.” (NAN)
Lagos, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Government will divert traffic from Alfred Rewane and Osborne roads in Ikoyi for four weeks.
The government will divert the traffic through Osborne Foreshore Estate axis, from June 26 to July 27.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Osiyemi said that the diversion would enable the Federal Ministry of Works to carry out the first phase of rehabilitation of the asphaltic sections from Osborne Foreshore Estate to Sura Bridge Ramp.
“Motorists from Alexander/Glover are advised to use Oba Adeyinka Oyekan Avenue inwards Ikoyi to connect Obalende/Ring Road and access Third Mainland Bridge to proceed with their journeys.
“Those from Victoria Island are advised to go through Falomo Roundabout to link Awolowo Road and access Third Mainland Bridge to reach their desired destinations.
“Alternately, motorists from Victoria Island can utilize Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue to link Mekunwen Bridge and proceed to CMS/Apongbon Bridge inwards Eko Bridge to access Funsho Williams Avenue to reach their desired destinations.
Osiyemi gave the assurance that traffic managers would be on ground to minimise inconveniences and ensure steady flow of traffic.
He urge motorists to be patient and comply with the instructions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Lagos, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, on Monday inaugurated 120 officers of the Aviation Security ( AVSEC) Special Force that would bear arms.
Kuku said this was part of her mission to beef up security across airports in the country.
While inaugurating 30 of the personnel at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Kuku said it was a constructive step to get Nigeria’s aviation security team kitted in line with global standards.
She said: “This is for them to help us in terms of securing our assets as well as the people within the aviation environment, specifically at the airports.
“It is remarkable for us, we are happy that we spent a significant amount of time in terms of training them and identifying the sort of individuals that are part of this squad.
“They are quite professional as you can see, and they will continue to engage as well as work closely with other security agencies.”
Kuku allayed the fear of the security team using excessive force in the course of its duty.
She advised passengers and other airports users to go about their businesses in an orderly manner.
According to her, the arms show that the team is an elite squad.
“What is critical is that we want to make sure that we can deter people. We hope that we do not have to use force. In the event that they need to, they will coordinate with all of the other security agencies.
“The focus is to make sure that they are helping us in terms of executing all of our desires, specifically around making sure that there are no illegal activities that go on.
“We are starting with the five international airports, that is Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. There is a similar exercise going on.
“We do have about 120 people who have been trained. In Lagos, we have about 30 of them.
“You can see them, they are gallant, they are well kitted, ready to protect, and are ready to serve,” she said.
Kuku expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support FAAN received from his office, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the national security adviser.
“We did have some challenges starting off initially but with their support, we have been able to get this rolling.
“We are also collaborating very closely with all of the security agencies across the airports.
“I was with the chief of air staff last week in Abuja, and he is working very closely with us,” she said.
On the next phase, the FAAN managing director said that campaigns against corruption at airports needed coordination, expressing hope that the inauguration was a step in the right direction. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Alleged burglar suffers electric shock inside FAAN powerhouse
FAAN
By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Lagos, June 24, 2024 (NAN) An unidentified man believed to have attempted to steal electrical cables inside the powerhouse of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Lagos airport, has suffered an electric shock.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, made the disclosure on Monday at the inauguration of a 30-man security outfit that would operate at the Lagos airport.
Kuku, who said that the electric shock happened recently, added that the unidentified man unlawfully entered into a building where FAAN power generators were installed.
She added that the man was disconnecting installations supplying power to the airport when he was shocked.
According to the managing director, the agency is leaving no stone unturned to block all loopholes that can allow unauthorised persons into airports.
She said that miscreants had crossed the perimeter fences of airports and stolen airfield lighting equipment.
She said that FAAN had looked forward to the unveiling of the 30-man security outfit.
According to her, there has been a lot of investment into airport security, from the armoury to the training of personnel and getting the arms as well as the ammunition.
Addressing the newly-inaugurated security personnel, Kuku said: “You have been specially selected to be part of this unit.
“This is a special unit. Hopefully, there won’t be any need to use your arms.
“What is critical is that we want you to work very closely with the other security agencies at the airport. This is an environment that we want to keep safe and secure.
“Today, we are collaborating with all the security agencies, especially with the air force.”
The managing director said that President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the national security adviser remained committed to airport security. (NAN)
Admissions: JAMB to announce cut-off marks on July 18
Admissions
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN)The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed Friday, July 18, 2024, for the Policy Meeting to deliberate on admissions cut-off marks into tertiary institutions.
The meeting which is expected to set minimum cut-off marks for 2024/2025 admissions, would be chaired by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
This was disclosed in the Board’s weekly bulletin and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
JAMB listed critical stakeholders expected at the meeting to include heads of regulatory agencies, such as the National University Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Others are National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Heads of tertiary institutions in the country, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.
“During the exercise, the Registrar will present reports on the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the ongoing Direct Entry (DE) applications.
“The registrar will also analyse key performance indicators that could shape the policy directions of the government in the area of admission.
“Also, the meeting would apprise stakeholders of the salient issues that cropped up in the course of the previous year’s admission exercise.
“In addition, the policy meeting will look at the performance of candidates in the current year’s UTME in order to determine the year’s minimum admissible score,” it said.
Recall that stakeholders had in the previous year agreed on the minimum admission requirement for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The meeting would determine the year’s admission requirements while kick-starting the admission process for the current year.
It would also discuss unresolved issues emanating from the previous academic year; and also appraise the compliance of stakeholders with extant advisories and suggest further amendments where necessary. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Council awards $250,000 grant to 4 innovative research teams
Research
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has awarded a 250,000 dollars grant to four innovative research teams in Nigeria.
This followed the successful implementation of the Research for Impact Initiative (R41) under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
In this initiative, four teams were shortlisted to advance their developed ideas through a collaborative research grant established under SGIC with Innovation Technology Hub as the technical partner.
Dr Saliba Bakare, Director of Research and Development of TETFund, said Nigeria joined the SGCI in 2020, five years after the programme inception and had made tremendous impact.
Bakare was speaking at the project inauguration and initial bootcamp of SGCI funding in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the 250,000 dollars grant will support four Nigerian research teams, each working on projects with the potential to drive significant change.
Among these initiatives are advancements in the processing of garri, a staple food, and pioneering efforts in renewable energy, amongst others.
He said the funding was aimed to bridge the gap between research and practical application by fostering innovations that could be commercialised.
“The essence is to help them transform their research findings into commercialisable goods and services in this country,” he said.
He noted that a critical component of the grant was its focus on helping research teams to develop their innovations into market-ready prototypes.
He added that this involved not only technical development but also pitching these products to industries by ensuring that the research was translated into tangible economic benefits.
“Four teams are going to use this money to develop their research into prototypes and pitch them with industries so that there will be take-off of the product coming out from the research,” he said.
Recall that TETFund is one of the 17 members of the Sub-Saharan Africa Science Funding Councils Initiative (SGCI) which seeks to strengthen Science Financing Councils in supporting research and evidence-based policies that contribute to the socioeconomic development of countries. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), says no life was lost to the Monday morning flash flood in Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Abuja.
The acting Director-General (D-G) of FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, stated this while assessing the extent of the flash flood that submerged some of the houses up to window level.
“There was no distress call from the residents of Trademore Estate. It was a passerby that saw the flooding and called us and there was no report of anybody missing.
“I am here with some members of the residents’ association and none of them reported that somebody is missing, dead or that somebody was drawn.
“If there is any, we have not received such a report,” Wenegieme said.
Supporting FEMD’s position, a security man with Pento Security Guard, Mr Eborn Sunday, equally said: “I am not aware of anyone that was killed by the flash flood this morning.
“We were on duty when the rain started around 7 a.m. Suddenly we saw the water level rising up and we started securing our belongings.
“After that, we started helping people whose houses were being submerged to safety. The water flooded the houses towards the estate gate up to window level, but no life was lost.”
The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that FEMD, along with officials from the National Emergency Management Agency, Department of Development Control, Department of Engineering Services, and Fire Service were at the scene to assess the situation.
Wenegieme explained while speaking to journalists that the emergency officials were not supposed to be at the estate because it was declared a disaster zone in 2022 due to the recurring flooding in the area.
Wenegieme said that the 2023 incident submerged almost all the houses in the estate.
She equally said that her team was not supposed to be at the estate because the residents had dragged FCT Administration to court over plans to demolish all houses built on waterways.
She said that about 116 houses were marked for demolition because they were built on waterways, but FCTA was restrained from removing the houses by a Court Injunction obtained by the residents.
Houses submerged to window level at Trademore Estate Lugbe, Abuja, after a heavy downpour Monday morning.
According to her, the houses that were submerged by the flash flood were part of the 116 houses marked for demolition for sitting on flood plain.
“The injunction stopped FCTA from removing all obstruction along the waterway, which was part of the solution to the lingering challenge.
“The residents were also advised to move out of the area, but they refused to move.
“We are here again to advise them that they should move out of the location in their own interest,” she said.
The acting D-G further said: “We have just discovered a school on the flood plain with students that could be up to 500, including their teachers, management and other non-academic staff.
“Their lives are at stake.”
She advised the school management to relocate the school to safer grounds for the sake of the children and the teachers, including the properties.
“You all are not safe when there is flooding.
“If there is a heavy downpour again, you never can tell what will happen and that is why we don’t want our children, the leaders of tomorrow, to remain here.
“We are just here to advise you for now,” she said.
She noted that the residents of the estate had mobilised their engineers who came up with an engineering solution that apparently did not solve the problem.
She appealed to the residents to move and allow the government to put the necessary infrastructure in place.
“But a situation where houses are still sitting on waterways and they are refusing to move, tell me how we will be able to solve the problem?
“If the court injunction is removed, and we are given the opportunity to come and put things in place, the FCT Administration will come and put things in place,” she added.
On the contrary, Mr Inemesit Udofot, Chairman, Trademore Estate Residents Association, Phase II, said that no house was sitting on a flood plain in the estate.
Udofot claimed that the recurrent flooding in the estate was largely caused by the channelling of water into Trademore by the adjoining estates.
According to him, demolition is not the way out. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, has given principals of all Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) one-week deadline to register their schools with the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC)
Sununu, who gave the directive in Abuja on Monday during an interactive session with principals of FUCs, said the purpose was to protect schools from attacks.
The NSSRCC, an initiative of the Federal Government, was established on Feb. 23, 2023, in response to increased cases of attacks on schools by bandits.
It is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating safety and security responses against violence in schools and host communities.
The minister noted that all schools must be duly registered on the national safe school response coordination centre to filter information that would help secure the schools.
“We are giving a deadline of one-week for all schools to be registered with NSSRCC to filter information and escalate to the security agencies for quick response,’’ he said.
Sununu also expressed decline in the enrolment rate of students, calling on the principals to ensure their schools get more students.
He said that the ministry had developed a portal for self-learning, urging the principals to key into the portal for their students to build their skills through technology education.
He, therefore, charged them to put efforts in making their schools better, especially in the area of quality education so as to boost students’ enrolment.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to work closely with the principals to achieving quality education in all schools. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Appeal
By Cynthia Okoye
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Kungaboku rural community in the Bwari Area Council, has appealed to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike for the construction of its access road and provision of potable water, other basic amenities.
Residents of the predominantly farming community, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
They urged the minister and other relevant bodies to safe them from being cut-off completely from the territory because of the bad state of the access road to the community.
Zephaniah Moses, the community youth leader said the only road leading to the community has been washed off by the rains making it very difficult for people to come in and go out .
“When heavy rains fall, the river across the road will be filled up. We will have to wait for at least, five hours, for the water to go down, before anyone can go out or come into the community
“What we need, is a bridge across the river. The palliative measures we have done on the road, through communal efforts have been washed off with the coming of the rains,” he said.
Moses also appealed for the provision of potable water, the rehabilitation of the only, LEA Primary School in the community, which he said the roofs of two of the blocks of classrooms, have been blown off by storm.
“Whenever it rains during school hours, the pupils will have to cramp in the few classrooms covered with roof for the rain to subside.
Roof of a block of classrooms in LEA Primary School, Kungaboku, FCT, blown off by storm.
“The school also needs perimeter fencing to protect the pupils and their teachers from attack,” he said.
Mr Rafiu Akintoye, a resident and farmer, who said he has lived in Kungaboku for 15 years described the community as peaceful and the indigenes, accommodating.
On the poor state of the road, Akintoye recalled an incidence when the river across it washed away a car trying to go out of the community when it was raining.
According to him, it took the intervention of able-bodied young men in the community to rescue the occupants of the vehicle down the river.
He said before the community carried out the palliative maintenance on the road, there were times they would have to remain in the community for two days whenever there was heavy downpour.
Akintoye said that the primary healthcare centre in the community is also in dire need of rehabilitation, health workers and drugs.
Primary Healthcare Centre, Kungaboku, Bwari Area Council, FCT
According to him, the health carecentre built by government and equipped by the Rotary Club many years back is in a sorry state at the moment.
He said health workers are not readily available, especially in the night, putting sick residents at risk and there are no drugs to be dispensed for patients.
Male Ward of Primary Healthcare Centre, Kungaboku, FCT
A poultry farmer in the community, Mrs Anna Jonah narrated how the bad access road has affected her business negatively.
“Coming in and going out of this community is the major challenge, especially for farmers who are dominant here.
“You have to trek a long distance before you can get “okada or keke” (commercial motorcycle or tricycle), many of them are not willing to come here.
On Saturday, I paid N5,000 to a “keke” man who brought in my chicken feeds, a distance of just 10 minutes. The fare will not have been up to that if the road is good.
People that come in here, to buy the birds also complain about the bad road and use the opportunity to underprice our birds,” she said.
She appealed to the Minister, the Bwari Area Council and other relevant bodies to come to their aid in fixing the road for ease of doing their business.
Mr Omerigwe Bartholomew, who did his national youths service’s programme in a farm in Kungaboku some years back, said he has remained in the village doing his own farming.
He said some of the big farms in the village are being leased out by the owners because of poor infrastructure and unfavourable business environment.
“I am into poultry, livestock and crops production. Right now, I am coming from my cassava farm
“I choose to remain in this village, after my youth service, because the villagers are peaceful and accommodating.
“We have not recorded clashes between farmers and herders here because we all live peacefully and when there is misunderstanding, the community head resolve it amicably,” he said.
Bartholomew appealed to the FCT administration to fix the infrastructure in Kungaboku village, particularly the access road, healthcare facility and potable water.
He also urged agricultural agencies to visit the village for possible establishment of farm clusters.
He assured that such development would boost agricultural production in the area and attract many youths to site more farm projects in the area.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
CTO/ROT
Wage
By Joan Nwagwu
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) Chris Onyeka, Assistant General-Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says many state Governors are flouting minimum wage Act because they do not believe in sanctity of the law.
Onyeka gave the position in Abuja on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on minimum wage law and its implementation.
NAN reports that while workers are anxiously awaiting a new minimum wage to be passed into law, 15 states are yet to implement the N30,000 wage enacted in 2019.
Even, with the increased revenue accruable to states after the fuel subsidy removal, the attendant hardship brought about by the hike in pump price, the states are still recalcitrant in paying their workers the minimum wage.
The states yet to implement the minimum wage, in defiant of the 2019 Act, are, Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba and Zamfara.
Onyeka said: “A state Governor who does not believe in the sanctity of the laws will have a high proclivity to disobeying them.
“If you examine the history of some of these governors and their handlers, you will find a preponderance of those who came to power by breaking the laws.
“Is it now that they will obey the national minimum wage act?”.
The labour leader said many governors were unwilling to pay civil servants their salaries because they see the state resources as theirs and are, therefore, not willing to share with the workers, who create the wealth.
“Some Governors believe, erroneously, that workers’ salaries can wait or be toyed with without consequences, so, they do not place priority to it.
“However, they forget that workers are human beings who need their salaries to meet their basic needs of life,” he said.
Onyeka added that fiscal indiscipline in many states is legendary, adding that, the personal greed of some governors resulted in their appropriating state resources into their private pockets.
The labour leader reiterated the need to cut cost of governance at all levels and end wastages..
He identified the measures, to include, reduction in the number of political appointees to reduce overhead, as well as reduction in number of logistics, official and operational vehicles.
Onyeka said the salaries and allowances of elected and appointed officials of the three arms of government should be in sync with what is receivable by civil servants.
He said government at all levels should streamline procurement processes to ensure integrity and accountability, fiscal discipline and transparency
“Governors should ensure budgetary fidelity, shun fund diversions and stop making provisions that allow for looting of the states.
“They should stay more in their states, instead of constantly being in Abuja, spending a lot of money maintaining two state houses,” he said.
Speaking on what could be done to compel the governors to obey the minimum wage law, the labour leader said the principles of law enforcement should be deployed.
According to him, the national minimum wage Act has clauses that take care of the monitoring and compliance, noting that, the challenge is at the level of enforcement.
“The Federal allocation to such states, once it is established that they are habitual breakers of the law, should be sequestered until they are compelled to pay.
‘The labour unions should also be empowered and supported in their actions against such states to pay.
“The Judiciary should be strengthened, especially the National Industrial Court, to carry out its responsibilities effectively,
“The court should not only give rulings, but also issue enforceable garnishee orders against such state governments,” he said
Onyeka maintained that, it is the right of organised labour to embark on strikes, and the federal government must give protection to workers so aggrieved, to freely exercise their legal right.(NAN) (www.nannews.ngr)
JAN/ROT
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