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Ajimobi, Oyo APC intensify efforts toward rancour free primaries

Primaries
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 11, 2018(NAN) Ahead of the forthcoming primaries of the party, All Progressives Congress(APC) in Oyo State has intensified efforts at ensuring a rancour free process.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of the state, including the state party executive members, on Tuesday met with stakeholders at the party’s secretariat in furtherance of efforts towards achieving a smooth process.

“We are here in continuation of our efforts at promoting and enhancing the progress as well as unity of the party.

“All these efforts no doubt have shown that APC parades the highest number of aspirants and the best quality,” he said.

Ajimobi at the meeting, urged the governorship aspirants to reach some understanding among themselves to prune their numbers to three for  less cumbersome primaries.

“You all have, during the series of meetings held, confirmed to us that you want us to pick one of you. We won’t support consensus, so no one will accuse us of imposition.

“Much as we appreciate competition, commitment and willingness to serve the people, our prayers is to have rancour free primaries.

“We thank our governorship aspirants for agreeing to reach some understanding among themselves and prune their numbers to three for indirect primaries,” he said.

The governor said that traitors in the APC had defected to other parties, while the patriots are back in the party.

He expressed gratitude to the aspirants, whom he said displayed commitment, decency and courage towards enhancing the unity as well as progress of the party.

The governor said that the party had turned round the fortunes of the country through quality leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reported that the party also adopted the indirect mode of primaries through a motion moved by a governorship aspirant, Mr Ayodeji Kareem.

The motion was seconded by Mr Segun Taiwo, a former House of Representatives member from the state.

The governor, the State Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, APC state executive members and some party leaders held series of closed-door meetings with the aspirants.

Among the governorship aspirants present were Dr Olusola Ayandele, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Mr Isaac Omodewu, Mr Olalekan Alli, Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Mr Soji Eniade.(NAN)

TAA/IA

“Trader Moni”: Osinbajo assures of govt.’s efforts to encourage traders grow

Traders

By Christian Njoku

Calabar, Sept., 11, 2018 (NAN) The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has assured traders in Calabar that the Federal Government will continue to encourage them to grow bigger in their businesses.

Osinbajo gave the assurance on Tuesday when he visited Watt’s Market, Calabar, to ascertain the level traders’ compliance with the federal government initiated “Trader Moni” scheme.

The vice president who interacted with the traders urged them to be patient with government as it was not relenting in its effort to improve their lot through its enterprise and empowerment programme.

Responding, the former President, Capital Traders Umbrella Association. Mr Celestine Ofurum, said the traders were very grateful to government for the gesture.

Ofurum however complained that many of the beneficiaries of “Trader Moni” programme were not traders in Watt’s market.

Joy Inyang, a trader in the market, also complained that the interest rate of the loan was too high and that the amount given was not enough to assist a poor trader.

“If the federal government wants to help us, it should give each of us something tangible such as N100,000 with an interest as low as N5000″, she said (NAN).

CBN/BEN/DOE/EMO

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Ejike Obeta

Defection

Eket (Akwa Ibom), Sept. 11, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Eme Ekaette, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial zone and former state deputy governor, Mrs Valerie Ebe on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC are retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom and former Chairman of Eka Local Government, Mr Francis Ikpon.

The state Chairman of APC, Mr Ini Okpobodi, received the defectors at a solidarity district rally and reception held for Obong Nsima Ekere at Eket.

Okpobodi said at the occasion  that the PDP had virtually collapsed in the state.

“On behalf of Akwa Ibom APC, I stand as Chairman to receive the latest members of our party in their hundreds in the state.

“They are here ably led by former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Valerie Ebe and Distinguished Sen. Eme Ekaette.

Okpobodi handed over the defectors to the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, represented by the National Vice-Chairman of APC South-South, Mr Hillary Eta.

Eta expressed delight at the defection of the former PDP chieftains into APC fold, describing the defectors as `wonderful Nigerians’.

“I am the luckiest National Vice Chairman in APC because I am superintending over the fast growing people in the party,’’ he said.

He explained that APC started with one Senator in the South-South but today the party has eight senators of Federal Republic of Nigeria in the South-South.

“Not too long from now, I promise you, we are going to have a majority of senators of South South from the APC in the National Assembly,’’ Eta said.

He said that when President Buhari-led government took over power in 2015, things were difficult but today things are getting better.

“It is not yet completely good but it is getting better,’’ he added.

He urged Akwa Ibom people to vote massively for President Buhari during the 2019 general elections in the state, saying that the present administration was not corrupt.

“I receive to this party, Her Excellency, Valerie Ebe and Sen. Eme  Ekaette and others to APC in the state.

Bee said,“I saw that without changing to APC, we will be doing serious mistakes.’’

The former deputy governor said that the government of PDP in the state had not performed well.

“We turn around and say if we are not members of the ruling party we will lose out at the national level.

“We have been suffering in the PDP-led government in the state. So we say so long as we have APC government led by President Buhari we are fine,’’ she said. (NAN)

SDB/OSA/MNA/IA

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Maureen Atuonwu

FG to negotiates $6bn loan to complete Ibadan/Kano rail corridor – Amaechi

Rail

By Lizzy Okoji

Abuja, Sept. 11, 2018 (NAN) Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said that the Federal Government is negotiating a six-billion dollar loan with the Chinese government to complete the Ibadan to Kano rail track.

Amaechi made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a news conference on the overhaul of the transport sector since the inception of the current administration.

According to Ameachi, completing the Ibadan to Kano corridor among others in the country will help to boost the nation’s economy.

“We are currently in negotiation with the China EXIM bank to get nearly about six billion dollars to do from Ibadan to Kano.

“It is a difficult decision because the money required is about 8 billion dollars to do the double track but the Chinese are insisting that they cannot fund double track so they are asking us to do a single track.

“They are asking us to do a single track and they want it at Minna so that instead of going from Minna to Kaduna, we should go from Minna to Abuja and then join it from Abuja to Kaduna.

“But there are those who argue that we should not accept that, rather we should tell them (Chinese) to fund it in segments. This, however, does not make economic sense.

“We are compelled to adjust just to have movement of goods, personnel and services from Lagos to Kano.

“What makes economic sense is the ability to get  the track to a seaport so that we can move goods.

“ What makes economic sense to rail services is the movement of goods,’’ Amaech said

Amaechi said that the ministry was also in talk with some companies in America to fund the Lagos to Calabar rail corridor and another Chinese company to fund Port Harcourt to Maiduguri corridor.

He explained that this was in line with the directives of President Muhamaddu Buhari that the rail lines must reach all state capitals.

The minister of transportation said that there was also a huge improvement in the water transportation sector.

Amaechi said that on the approval for waterways security, 195 million dollars had been approved as he expressed confidence that it would help reduce crime in the maritime sector.

According to him, the Federal Government has approved l 195 million dollars to hire an Israeli company to help train security personnel to man the waterways.

He said under the watch of the current administration, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had moved from contract awarding to a proper regulatory agency.

Amaechi said that the aviation sector had also experienced a great overhaul which improved safety without incidence of plane crash during the current administration.

He said to ensure the continued safety in the aviation sector, the Federal Government would ensure that equipment and policies remained in place. (NAN)

LIZ/IA

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Clean- up
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Sept. 11, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government has concluded plans to commence the cleanup of Ogoni impacted communities on or before end of last quarter of 2018.

Minister of Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, made this known at a Pre-contract Award meeting organised by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Jibril, who was represented by Dr Ishayaku Mohammed, Senior Technical Assistant to the minister, said the deadline for the cleanup would be achieved.

The minister said that the Federal Government had concluded all processes outlined in the agreement, while funds for the project had been provided.

He said: “The stage we are in now is procurement process. We have 183 companies that are pre-qualified and have been asked to submit their documents to bid for contract.

“All bids are suppose to end on September 24 followed by financial evaluation. There is timeline for each process.

“We have matching orders that by the end of October, people should be seen on the field,” he said.

The minister said that an escrow account has been opened for the board of trustees of HYPREP with 177 million US dollars credited to the account.

Dr Marvin Dekil, Head, Project Coordination of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) said that the project had arrived at a defining moment that would be witnessed by the communities.

He said that contractors seeking to secure the project must have technical and financial competencies to qualify for the cleaning exercise.

“It is very important for the economy, environment and health of the people.

“It is one project that we cannot over-emphasised the importance. We are all here to make it succeed,” he said. (NAN)
DES/OOA/AFA
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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Felix Ajide

Gully erosion: Abia NEWMAP urges South-East to minimise dependence on land

Erosion

Umuahia, Sep.11, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has advised the South-East states to minimise dependence on land as part of measures to check gully erosion in the zone.

Mr Izuchukwu Onwughara, the Project Coordinator of NEWMAP gave the advice on Tuesday in Umuahia, while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on gully erosion devastation in the zone.

He expressed concern that the phenomenon had continued to wreck havoc on many communities with the attendant negative implication on the socio-economic life of the people.

“In fact, the South-East is the erosion headquarters of the entire globe,” he said, adding that Anambra was the worst hit, followed by Enugu and Abia states.

Onwughara attributed the problem of gullies in the area to the high population density.

According to him, the ratio of persons that live within one square kilometer in Nigeria is highest in the South-East.

“The soil is very weak and there is high demand on land. Unfortunately, while the population is increasing, land is not increasing.

“It makes the area highly susceptible to soil erosion unlike other areas such as the North that is face with wind erosion,” he said.

Omwughara said that there were very simple measures that people could adopt to control the menace.

The coordinator said that the problem usually started as “ordinary sheet erosion (tiny erosion signs) that was not attended to.

“People should learn the culture of using sand bags, coconut shaft, planting of trees and restrictions on indiscriminate felling of trees to control erosion in our communities,” he said.

He said that NEWMAP had embarked on remediation in critical areas in Abia including Umuda Isingwu,  Umuagu-Ibeku, Amuzukwu-Ibeku in Umuahia North council area as well as Umuoghele and Umuezukwu Nsulu in Isialangwa North council area.

Onwughara said that the agency had been given approval to do serious flood emergency work at Uratta in Aba, the economic hub of the state.

He commended Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for releasing N350 million as counterpart fund for the NEWMAP projects in the state.

The project coordinator disclosed that the fund was deployed in the payment of compensation for people’s property destroyed in the course of the project execution.

He said that the governor also approved additional N1 billion for the payment of compensation for the projects in Aba and those awaiting approval. (NAN)

LEO/USO/MNA

Edited by Sam Oditah/Maureen Atuonwu

Infrastructure

By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Abuja, Sept. 11, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Transportation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan to promote quality infrastructure development and harmonious relationship between Nigeria and Japan.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria, while Japan’s State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tsukasa Akimoto signed for Japan, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Amaechi said Japan’s interest to partner with Nigeria in infrastructural development was a welcome development.

“You have identified the infrastructure deficit that is huge, we are a developing country, so there will be huge infrastructure deficit, and it offers Japan and Japanese investors opportunity to come in.

“Currently, we have American investors and the Chinese investors that are coming into the economy. For us in Nigeria, we will be glad to see more investors.”

He explained that there was two types of investment that the Nigerian government would encourage, which includes asking other government for a concessioning loan.

“Usually, the concessioning loan interest rate is about 1.5 per cent so we will be glad if the Japanese government can come in, like the Chinese government.

“There is over 3,500 kilometres of rail, the Chinese have been able to do about 300 kilometres, before the end of the year they will do another 1,200 kilometres to bring their own contribution to 1,500 kilometres, which is based on concessioning loan.

“We are talking with the Americans, but its not a concessioning loan, they are bringing their investment and they will build 1,500 kilometres of rail including two Sea Ports.

“So, we still have about 1,500 kilometres of rail, we will be glad if we can get concessioning loan from the Japanese government or get Japanese investors to do that.”

According to him, there are other areas like Power, Housing, Water, Works that Japan can also invest in, so there is huge opportunity for Japanese investors in Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, Mr Tsukasa Akimoto, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, expressed delight that there is still opportunity for Japan to build infrastructure in the country.

“As you all are aware, Japan is putting in a great deal of emphasis on providing high quality infrastructure and in that respect we are not in comparison with other countries such as China, Korea and European countries.

“If you look at the country cycle of infrastructure developed by the Japanese, ours is the most cost effective, you are aware that in the past there has been much discussion on Japan’s cooperation with Nigeria.

“In providing the other railway and development plan in Lagos Island, we hope there will be more opportunities in the future for Japan to provide technical expertise and capacity building, including high quality infrastructure here in Nigeria,” Akimoto said. (NAN)
TY/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

FG orders deportation of 36 Indians, 2 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nationals

Deportation
By Doris Esa
Abuja,Sept.11,2018(NAN) The Federal Government has approved the immediate deportation of 36 Indians and 2 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nationals with immediate effect.

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.- Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Mohammed Umar, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Umar said the minister who signed the deportation order on Tuesday, in his Office in Abuja said it was pursuant to section 45(2, 3 and 4) of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015.

Dambazau in the statement explained that the Indian nationals gained entry into the country with fake visas and counterfeit Immigration stamps, while the Korean nationals failed to regularise their stay upon the expiration of their contract with Zamfara Government.

Dambazau gave the names of the affected nationals as:Mr AN CHUN SIK and Mr JON SU GYONG of the Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea.

The statement listed the names of the 36 Indian nationals as: -Mr Sajji, Mrs Sajji Arvini, Mrs Sunil Babujumma, Mrs Meemi, Mr Papachi, Mr Deva, Mr Rajani, Mrs Kiran Shivachadra, Mr Shivachadra and Mr Shakthi.

Others the statement said are : Mr Prabhukumar, Mr Rajan, Mr Shree Kumar, Mr Jagandeesh, Mrs Mamathaja, Mrs Sheela, Mr Prasad, Mr Pappa and Ms Nirveni

Also named are: Mr Shambhu Kumar, Mrs Reshma, Mr Ravi Kumar, Mr Iraji, Mrs Jinotha, Mr Kishore, Mr Nageena, Mrs Sheelavathi and Mr. Nentaraju/Santhosh Kumar.

The minister in the statement named other the India nationals as Mrs Sumati, Mr Krishna Lokesh, Mr Santhil, Mr Vasantha, Mr Seebu, Mr Vishwanath, Mr Vishwanth Ramya and Mr Rajeshwari.

He reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to empower the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enhance enforcement of the nation’s Immigration Laws.

The minister in the statement further stated that all foreign nationals should operate within the provisions of the law as the nation would not compromise its immigration laws.(NAN)

ORD/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

UNGA

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Sept. 11, 2018 (NAN) The Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, says President Muhammadu Buhari, will lead Nigeria’s  delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, which begins Sept. 18.

The 73rd UNGA will begin Sept. 18 at the UN Headquarters, New York, while the General Debate will hold from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

Onyeama, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference on the 73^rd UNGA, said Mr President would use the opportunity to assert Nigeria’s position on  global issues.

“It an opportunity for him to assert Nigeria’s  position globally and to put forward our ideas and our vision going forward as a global community.

“The President will address the 73rd Session of the High-Level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 25.

“He will deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on the first day of the general debate of the General Assembly high-level events,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari has been placed as the number 20 on the list of the speakers out of the 193 world leaders that would address the Assembly.

He would deliver the address to the Assembly on the first day between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. local time).

Onyeama said the theme for this year’s UNGA is:“Making the United Nations relevant to all People: Global Leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable development “.

According to him, as usual Mr president will be leading Nigeria delegation with the numbers of Ministers and heads of agencies and permanent secretary to the event.

“Of course, this is the global meeting of heads of state in the world.

“It is extremely important and it is a rare opportunity for Nigeria as a country to engage with the other countries of the world,” he said.

Onyeama said the 73rd UNGA will avail Nigeria and other member states of the UN the opportunity to engage, interface and share best practices toward reaching common understanding and consensus on key issues of global significance.

According to him, Mr President will hold bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary-General, some African and other world leaders, as well as few strategic partners during this period.

“Nigeria’s expected outcome at the 73rd UNGA should be to achieve a well-planned, synchronised and successful participation of Nigeria at the 73rd Session, under the guidance of Mr President.

“It will be weighed against the back drop of externalisation of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives through effective engagement,” he said. (NAN)

IAA/OSA/AFA

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Felix Ajide