The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Undying fuel scarcity monster

    One of the hallmarks of the past administrations appeared to be firmly gaining ground under the current dispensation.

    This is talking about the lingering fuel scarcity that has refused to disappear from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja and its environs, the northern part of the country and many states of the nation.

    The fuel queues, which started in most parts of the country few days to the 2017 Christmas celebration, have continued to worsen since the problem started.

    They are becoming largely different from what Nigerians went through under past administrations.

    Under past administrations, when such fuel scarcity starts few days to Christmas celebrations or other festive periods, it normally disappears few days after the Christmas and other festive seasons.

    But not, it has refused to go away from Abuja and many parts of the country over three weeks after the 2018 New Year celebration.

    Now, Nigerians are back to the old days of spending many hours and in most cases sleeping on long queues in petrol stations where the product is being sold.

    While the independent oil marketers have declared that it was no longer profitable for them to import the refined product into the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which took over the responsibility 100 percent has not been able to arrest the situation in many parts of the country.

    For instance, while most petrol stations on the Katampe – Kubwa – Zuba expressway are under lock and key due to lack of the product, the NNPC outlets on the expressway have contributed immensely to the long queues at the petrol stations.

    At the NNPC Katampe, which has the facility to sell through 96 fuel pumps, it hardly uses up to 20 pumps to sell the product.

    While Nigerians continue to suffer and waste production hours on the queues, the reason such outlets’ managements always give is that they do not want to exhaust their stocks till they get the next supply.

    Rather than the sufferings Nigerians are made to go through on such long queues, it may even be more beneficial for many fuel pumps to be used at any particular fuel station irrespective of when the next supply is coming.

    It the long run, it will save or reduce  the man-hours lost by Nigerians on the queues and the man-hours put into the sales by the attendants.

    With the assurances from the government, Nigerians really never bargained for the hardship they have gone through, especially in the three weeks followed the 2018 New Year crossover night.

    Initially, when the scarcity began few days to the 2017 Christmas celebrations, government officials gave assurances that the fuel queues would soon disappear as supplies in the country would last till end of January 2018.

    The assurances never became reality as the scarcity bite harder during the Christmas celebration.

    Another assurance given on the 29th of December, 2017 after the Christmas celebration claiming that the monster of fuel scarcity has been killed is fast becoming an empty assurance.

    The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, had told State House correspondents on the last Friday of the year that the fuel scarcity, as a problem, was over.

    He said “I’m happy to report that we have tamed the monster that reared its head as a result of the rumoured price increase about three weeks ago.

    “Fortunately that rumour instigated a lot of marketers to be very greedy and they decided that their fellow citizens should not enjoy the Christmas holiday and New Year with ease and decided to profiteer starting by hoarding and diversion of products.

    “At the beginning I did address the press, telling the world that we have sufficient products that will last us 30 days through the New Year into January but because the marketers wanted to inflict harm and pains on fellow citizens, they decided to hoard products, divert them and in some cases even smuggle products out of the country.

    “This has been tamed by the actions we took and I personally led the war around Abuja and other teams led the war in Lagos and other parts of the country.

    “As of this morning, I have gone round the Abuja metropolis and I have seen that the queues have reduced significantly to almost normal level and few motorists that I heard speaking on morning programmed concerning what I have seen said they have not spent up to 30 minutes to fuel their car.

    “So the monster has been tamed in Lagos, the situation has been brought into normalcy as far as two days ago and we are also aching the same thing in all other cities.

    “I promise that we have sufficient products that will last us for the next 30 days and we keep bringing in 50% over and above our normal consumption into the country. And vessels have been lined up, at the moment I have eight vessels discharging products at various ports around the country.

    “So Nigerians should enjoy the New Year and that Mr. President’s directive and guidance which has been very helping has been executed and normalcy has returned.

    Almost a month after the remark, Nigerians, especially in the capital city of Abuja and its environs and many parts of the country, know better.

    The mood of Nigerians on the streets was perfectly captured by the remarks of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, last week.

    He said “The House expects that with the cooperation given to the executive arm to increase fuel price from N87 per litre to N145, based on the assurances, fuel scarcity ought to be a thing of the past.

    “We were also assured that fuel subsidy had come to an end. From recent developments on this subject, except the executive adduces compelling reasons why the reverse is the case, we will be justified in feeling betrayed,” he added.

    Urgent steps really need to be taken now to address the situation squarely.

    The sufferings must come to an end.

     

  • AMAC presents over N6 billion 2018 budget proposal

    The Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has presented the council’s 2018 Budget proposal  in the tune of N6,921,263,402.00  to its legislative arm.

    In the financial proposal tagged: “Budget of Reality and Consolidation”, N3,753,344,883.00 (54.23%) was apportioned as capital expenditure; and N3,167,9 18,519.00 as recurrent expenditure.

    Also, it has projected income of N3, 821,263,402.00 from net statutory allocation; N600,000,000.00 and N2,500,000.00 as 10% FCT and AMAC Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) respectively.

    Candido disclosed that the estimated figure, which represents a nominal increase of 11.76% of the previous year, was envisaged to ensure accelerated grassroots development.

    He explained that his leadership adopted a zero-based budgeting system system to eliminate inefficiency.

    According to him, the works and housing department which is saddled with the supervision and provision of critical infrastructures got 27.19% which is N1,881,836,984 billion of the entire budget making it the highest.

    He added that the council’s administration department with N1,262,064,363 billion representing 18.23%, the health and human services came third with N783,799. 055 million representing 11.32% while education and social development came fourth with N781,332,026 representing 11.29% of the total budget.

    “With our renewed commitment to ensure the twelve wards of the council are equitably serviced in line with our electioneering vision, we have allocated over half of the 2018 budget to capital project with special focus on completing the ongoing ones.

    “As a responsible government, we have begun payment of some of the contracts so that projects maybe completed while we are reconciling the liabilities of others to identify and settle legitimate claims,” he said.

    The Speaker of AMAC Legislative Council, Hon. Daniel Micheal, moved a motion, which was seconded to allow the Chairman present the 2018 budget to the hallowed chamber for consideration and approval.

     

  • Buhari, Fulani factor and the Benue killings

    Among the states that have been badly hit since beginning of this year are Benue and Rivers states.

    The two states have recorded gruesome killings of its citizen’s right from the New Year crossover night.

    While those killed in Rivers state were believed to have died from the activities of militants, the killings in Benue State were suspected to be done by killer herdsmen, an occupation most done by Fulanis.

    Even though other states like Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa have also had their shares of gruesome killings in this New Year, the main focus of this write-up is on Benue State.

    Benue State, alone, has lost more than seventy-one of its citizens to the suspected killer herdsmen this year.

    The blame of the atrocities in Benue State is put at the doorstep of the Fulanis, who are mostly involved in cattle rearing from one location to the other.

    Series of similar attacks have taken place in various parts of the state as far back as the year 2013.

    The accusing fingers for the killings in the state have remained pointed in the direction of the herdsmen, who have opposed the newly introduced anti-grazing law in Benue state.

    Not a few Nigerians have expressed worries over the trend, as they have accused the Federal Government, especially under President Muhammadu Buhari, of handling the deadly attacks with kid gloves.

    To many of them, the Federal Government was turning a blind eye to the attacks in the state in the past two years of President Buhari’s government.

    Unlike what is happening in Benue State, they even pointed out that the Buhari’s Government does not hesitate to handle any other killings in any other parts of the country with the seriousness they deserve once the Fulani herdsmen are not the culprits.

    There have also been calls from some quarters for the killer herdsmen to be declared terrorist group, which is yet to be heeded.

    Some of those Nigerians have also attributed the attitude of the Federal security agencies to killings in Benue State to the fact that President Buhari is a Fulani man.

    They believed that by his actions or inactions, he was indirectly supporting his tribesmen.

    The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who could not hold back tears as a result of one of the recent killings, was reported also to have blamed the poor intervention of the Federal Security agencies for the onslaught.

    He was said to be particularly unhappy with the President’s silence over the matter.

    The governor’s position as reported, however, was different when he spoke with State House journalists at the Presidential Villa last week Tuesday.

    On allegations that he was blocked from seeing Mr. President on the issue, Ortom had said: “I have never accused anyone of blocking me from seeing Mr. President. I am seeing Mr. President. I told him when this incident occurred I spoke to Mr. President on phone and followed it up.

    “I know what it entails being a President, even as governor most times I am not with my phone, people cannot access me the way it used to be talkless of a President.

    “I didn’t say that and I have not said it. The truth is that I have access to Mr. President anytime I want, I speak to him on phone and I see him personally. I requested to speak to him on phone that day because I couldn’t come to Abuja and he gave me the opportunity and today I am here and I have seen him,” he said.

    A fact sheet issued by the President’s Media Office last Thursday night also exonerated President Buhari from other allegations.

    Titled ‘FACTSHEET: Federal Response to the Attacks and Killings by Herdsmen in Benue and other States’, it reads: “Background: Insinuations and allegations that the attacks and killings are happening because President Buhari is Fulani are both unkind and incorrect.

    “These attacks long predated the Buhari Government. In 2013 no fewer than nine cases of herdsmen attacks were recorded in Benue State alone, with more than 190 people killed. In 2014 there were no fewer than 16 recorded attacks, in Benue, which claimed more than 230 victims.

    “Between January and May 2015, six attacks left more than 300 people dead, again in Benue State alone.

    “This historical context is important for a proper understanding of the issue, and to avoid unnecessarily politicising what should be regarded and dealt with as acts of criminality.

    “These attacks have been a longstanding issue, and successive governments have struggled to contain the situation.

    “The Buhari Administration is more than fully committed to bringing the cycle of violence to an end, prosecuting the attackers, and preventing further killings and attacks.

    “The security agencies have standing instructions to arrest and prosecute any and all persons found with illegal arms.” it said

    Highlighting the Federal Interventions, it added: “The recent killings in Benue and Taraba States have elicited the following Federal responses:

    “President Buhari has met with the Governor of Benue State on the matter, to assure him of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting farmers and communities.

    “President Buhari has directed the Inspector General of Police to relocate to Benue State.

    “On Monday January 8, 2018, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, convened a security meeting on the issue, bringing together Federal and State government officials: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heads of security agencies, and the Governors of the most affected States: Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

    “On Wednesday January 10, 2018, the IG held a Stakeholders engagement with the Benue State Government, elders, community, religious and traditional leaders etc.

    “Since the first week of January, immediately following the January 1 attacks, the Inspector General of Police has deployed the following to the affected areas:

    “Ten (10) Units of PMF, Police Special Forces, Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams and Police Aerial Surveillance Teams (Police Helicopters).”

    It went on: “The Nigerian Army has deployed Special Forces to Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa States. In Benue State, eight (8) suspected herdsmen are in Police custody over the recent killings, and are currently being prosecuted.

    “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working to establish cattle colonies across the country, in 2018. These colonies will provide grass and water for the cattle and education and healthcare facilities for herders. They will also have Agro-Rangers deployed to secure the facilities,” it stated.

    Security and safety of the lives of all Nigerians, irrespective of where they originate from, should continue to be accorded top priority.

    The government agencies should also be seen to swiftly responding, at all times, to threats to life in any part of the country without any trace of partiality or bias.

    Everything should be done to separate and set aside politics from efforts to safeguard the nation.

     

  • Nile University matriculates 548

    Nile University of Nigeria has matriculated 548 students in the 2017/2018 academic year.

    Nile University was established in 2009 with only seven departments but today the institution is matriculating students into the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, faculty of Management Science, faculty of Law and various departments that offers quality teaching and learning for students.

    Performing the 10th matriculation ceremony of the institution in Abuja, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Huseyin Sert, told the new students to see themselves as a driving force of development in the industrial and manufacturing sector as well as leaders to drive growth in economy and governance.

    He said the University has a deliberate policy to place premium in sciences to build capacity for technology development and grow the social sciences to produce quality graduates under its manpower development guide with direct focus on governance and leadership now and in the future.

    Sert, who is a professor of medicine, noted that the policy trust of the institution is to produce notable and qualified professionals in chosen fields and make them to be outstanding in competence and performance in any sector of the economy a graduate of the institution finds his or herself, especially in the African sub-region where growth in leadership role is needed to build relevant institutions for sustainable and robust democracy.

    The Vice Chancellor declared that intellectual development and impartation is a major concern of the University, explaining why recruitment of academic personnel in the institution has a standardized national and international colouration to ensure that Nile University do not produce half-baked graduates.

    The university has over time added to its kitty masters and doctorate degree programmes with best train professors in various fields to impact not just knowledge but discipline and good conduct of students to become useful in the society.

    The matriculation oath was administered by the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Yasar Aktekin, who urged the students to be of good conduct and committed to their studies with the firm belief that the students will graduate from the institution within the specified number of years and course duration.

    Speaking on behalf of the students Miss. Fatima Sadiq, a Mass Communication student, assured the University that students have only one point agenda in school which is to study and be of good behavior and as well live an exemplary life for the younger people to emulate.

     

  • Govt, traditional rulers dialogue on security, unity

    Govt, traditional rulers dialogue on security, unity

    District heads and traditional rulers of communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have dialogued on security and peace of the people.

    The dialogue held in the Council Secretariat in Area 10 Garki-Abuja.

    The stakeholders discussed disharmony and boundary disputes that affect communities within AMAC and Nasarawa State.

    AMAC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu Candido said the meeting was transparent and aimed at finding lasting solutions to the lingering problems facing the people.

    He warned traditional rulers aiding and abetting criminalities to desist from such acts.

    The Chairman, AMAC Unity Committee, John Bawa, said stakeholders must do their best to bring about peace and unity.

    He said some traditional institutions in AMAC have replicated the committee in their domains to foster peace.

    The chairman of AMAC Village Heads, Chief Bawa, said the timing of the dialogue was apt and described the AMAC Chairman as best among equals.

    Bawa, who assured the council chief of their unconditional support,  pleaded on behalf of the village heads for forgiveness and clemency for any wrongdoing while discharging their responsibilities to the people.

    The chairman, AMAC District Heads, Jacob Garki, reiterated the importance of peace and unity to the progress and development of the society.

    He called on community leaders to always live by example to encourage their subjects.

    He commended the AMAC Unity Committee for a job well done.

     

  • Orphans, IDP camps children stole show at Dogara’s high profile birthday bash

    Orphans, IDP camps children stole show at Dogara’s high profile birthday bash

    Orphans and children in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are in for a good time this year. All thanks to the N250m realized at the 50th birthday bash of House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    The week-long event began with novelty football matches between his friends in the public and private sectors. In the match between the Senators and members of the House of Representatives, which ended in a goal apiece, Senate President Bukola Saraki equalised through a mysterious penalty kick to cancel out the earlier goal scored by the Speaker. There was also another match between the Speaker’s side and the private sector captained by industrialist Aliko Dangote.

    The final leg of the Abuja event included a church service, witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It also included visits to 19 orphanage homes, where food items, toiletries, beddings as well as beverages and dried fish were distributed to the children.  At Treasure Orphanage Foundation and Abuja Children’s Home in Karu, a suburb of Abuja, Dogara told the children not to despair or dwell too much on the circumstances that placed them where they found themselves today.

    Dogara assured the children that the proceeds of the birthday programme, including the launch of his autobiography authored by Dele Momodu would be donated to the less privileged. He urged the authorities and the well-to-do in the country to give back to the society.

    He said: “We are here in response to the higher call of duty to support the less fortunate and less privilege in society. For the young people who are in this Home, I want to encourage you that there is no one who can stop you from rising to the top, only you can stop yourselves. All you need is discipline, the gift, the talent; time and opportunity are equally given to all of us by God. The circumstances of your birth or the situation in which you find yourself do not change the fact that God Has deposited talent in us. There are people who were in similar positions before now and have gone to accomplish so much. With God, discipline and focus, you don’t need anyone because as you are destined by God, He will provide for you.”

    At the reception held at the prestigious International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja on Boxing Day, where ‘A reed made Flint’ was also launched, not less than N250m was realised. The exquisitely decorated hall witnessed the assemblage of movers and shakers of the Nigerian society and there was no dull moment throughout the evening with star gospel artistes Panam Percy Paul and Tope Alabi providing inspirational songs. The duo of Sam and Song blew everyone away with their brand of comedy at the event chaired by Saraki.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who wrote the Forward of the autobiography that was reviewed by Reuben Abati, in his goodwill message, said Dogara was a dependable ally, while revealing that when he assumed office, one of his greatest desires was to be blessed with men of impeccable characters to steer the country right.

    “Dogara is a fulfillment of that desire,” Buhari said.  He was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    The guest list boasted of former First Lady Mariyam Abacha, Governors Aminu Tambuwa (Sokoto), Muhammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Nasarawa State Deputy Governor Silas Agara and Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu. The event was also attended by former Speakers Dimeji Bankole and Patricia Etteh.

    Dogara revealed that Dangote Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have promised to partner him in his pet project of catering for the less privileged.

  • Unending Presidential jokes

    Unending Presidential jokes

    Arising common phenomenon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja is the series of jokes now being thrown by the leaders at public functions.

    The number one and number two citizens, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, have continued to seize every available opportunity to make their guests and staff laugh.

    They have continued to loosen up a bit and not make every occasion strictly business.

    Through their jokes, they have been able to engage the attention of their audiences and easily drive home their points.

    Jokes have been found to play a very important role towards easing individuals’ lives and working as a good medicine to relief their stress.

    They can also help people in bad mood or in a problem feel better.

    Many benefits of laughing and sharing funny jokes include boosting up the human immune system by increasing infection fighting antibodies, impacts blood circulation and help with heart and other cardiovascular problems, stimulates most of the organs of the body and increases endrophins released by brain, which helps in reducing pain.

    Other benefits, according to experts, include relieving stress and soothing tension, which go a long way to reduce anger and depression, increases heart rate and blood pressure, while also helping to sharpen sensibilities.

    Buhari exhibited the special trait during the 2017 Christmas homage paid on him last week Monday by the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello.

    After the FCT Minister and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) FCT chapter, Jonah Samson, had made their remarks, it was the turn of the President to speak to the visitors.

    He started his remarks by cracking jokes.

    He said: “I have to digress right from the word ‘go’ to thank those who drafted the Nigerian constitution with respect to the number of senators which puts states on equal terms and excluding the FCT. (While all the states have three Senators in the Senate, only FCT has one Senator).

    Pointing to the only FCT representative in the Senate, Senator Phillip Aduda (PDP), who was sitting on his immediate left in his sitting room, Buhari added: “Because he is from the other party.”

    The Presidential sitting room, which was filled to the brim, immediately erupted in laughter.

    The President added when the laughter subsided: “I think you will know clearly when you know that Bayelsa State has 8 local governments, Kano State has 44 local governments, but in the Senate they are all equal as they produce three senators each. I think this is very fair.”

    Not done with the jokes, the President again cracked another one while observing protocol of the government officials and guests in the sitting room.

    He said: “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, members of the Federal Executive Council, I do not expect to see the Ministers here, I thought they will be busy in their constituencies.”

    He then added the joke: “But I think it is good excuse they are here as they will spend less.”

    The guests again burst out laughing with heads turning in the direction of the Minister of Science and Technology,  Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, who were seated in the hall.

    A week to the Christmas homage, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also almost burst the ribs of journalists covering the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The occasion was the end-of-year seminar of the State House Press Corps (SHPC) at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

    Osinbajo was to declare open the seminar with the theme: ‘Journalists and Retirement Plans’.

    Already seated at the high-table before Osinbajo made his remarks were the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Jalil Arabi, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the Chairman of the occasion, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Kwara representing the governor, the guest lecturer and Chairman of Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu and the SHPC Chairman, Ubale Musa.

    Jokes after jokes, Osinbajo succeeded in lightening up the hall and making the seminar a memorable one for the State House Press Corps.

    He jokingly recounted his ugly business experiences when he ventured into journalism in the past.

    He said: “I have always been a media person by default sometimes and by the nature of my other engagements. I served on the advisory board of the News and the Tempo for many years. It was then I realised how difficult it is to do business with journalists because I was never paid any legal fees for my efforts.”

    The journalists and other guests in the hall could not help but laugh.

    He went on: “We sat at various meetings. There was no sitting allowance, nothing. In fact, I always wonder that I always see you people selling, how come there is no reward at all?”

    The hall again erupted in laughter.

    “So, I could understand that there could be need for very serious debate about this issue of remuneration.”

    He was again interrupted by the journalists with laughter and clapping.

    Osinbajo then continued: “My other engagement as a ‘media person’ was when I co-founded an anti-corruption organisation, called ‘Integrity’ in 1994.

    “And we had a publication called ‘Scrutiny’. One afternoon the SSS came to ask for the Professor from my editor, the editor of the publication, Kunle Oshadipe, initially a journalist with The Tempo,

    “He had on a pair of round eyeglasses. I was not there when they came. As soon as they asked for the Professor, he told them ‘I’m not the Professor’. They told him ‘It’s a lie.’ And they carried him away.”

    The hall erupted in laughter again.

    “To cut a long story short, Kunle’s wife called me and said ‘They were looking for the Professor and they have carried my husband. My husband is not the Professor’.

    Laughter again followed the Vice President’s remark.

    “Everybody deserted the office; all of us who were strong advocates of the anti-corruption fight deserted the office.”

    Another round of laughter ensued.

    “But I felt that I had no choice, as the only Professor in the whole setting. So I went to the SSS office where I was held for over 24 hours. Nobody said anything to me. They just sat me there and I was hearing screams of people who were obviously being beaten. They didn’t say a word to me.

    “But late that night, one guy came to me and said ‘I hope you heard the screaming.”

    Another laughter in the hall.

    “He then brought out a lot of the pamphlets that we have published and said ‘Do you think it is worth it to lose your life for these?’

    “By the grace of God, an elderly woman came in and said that somebody I taught in the university asked me to be released. So, she said I should pick my things and go.  I immediately disappeared from the office,” he said

    Another laughter followed.

  • N67b Utako market remodeling

    N67 billion remodeling of the Utako Market has sparked protest among traders who fear their shops will be taken away from them upon the completion of the project.

    This has forced the FCTA to assure the angry and apprehensive traders that there are no plans to throw them out of their shops.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Christian Ohaa urged the traders and shop owners to return to the negotiating table to make room for amicable resolution of issues generated by the remodeling project.

    The upgrade of the market is an initiative of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) authorities.

    Ohaa made the appeal in a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, as well as Utako Market Traders Association, in his office.

    Ohaa gave strong assurances to the traders that no one would shortchange them or take away their shops unduly in the course of the remodeling exercise.

    The meeting was convened in reaction to the protest staged by the concerned traders at the FCTA Secretariat, alleging that the exercise was a ploy to take their shops away from them.

    According to a statement issued by the FCT Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the Permanent Secretary expressed concern over the way and manner the traders pulled out from earlier negotiations and urged them to return to the negotiating table and to express their grievances with an open mind as stakeholders in the Abuja project.

    He said, “We are committed to ensuring justice and due process. The developers have assured us that no one will lose his shop and we hold him to their words and will not superintend over injustice.

    “This is government of change, committed to moving Nigeria forward. Abuja is the city of unity, as envisioned by our founding fathers and a home for every Nigerian.”

    Ohaa urged the traders to consider the interest of all parties in the project by allowing work to go on, explaining that he had visited the market and observed that business activities and construction work could go on simultaneously. FCTA, he stated would ensure security of lives in all places, including the markets, churches and mosques at all times, especially during festive season.

    He further requested the whole team, comprising the FCT and national leaders of the Association as well as Ohanaeze and others to visit the market for firsthand information on the state of affairs and to report back to him.

    The representative of the developer, Engr. Rabiu Sa’id, at the occasion gave assurances to the shop owners that they would all get their shops even before commencement of sale of the new shops to the public.

    Sa’id also revealed that the remodeling would provide 2100 shops, three times more than the existing shops, in addition to a 1500-space multi-level car park.

    He said: “No traders will lose his shop. We will spend N67billion to develop the market, and we have not sold any shop. We will not sell any shop until everybody that has a shop there gets his shop. The issue of short-changing anyone does not arise, at all.”

    The Chairman, Utako Market Traders Association, Austin Onwuamado expressed happiness over the outcome of the meeting while appealing that the traders interest be protected by the government during and after the construction exercise. He pleaded that most of the traders obtained loans to acquire the shops and the goods in them.

    He also appealed to the developers to temporary halt further development activities on the site to allow them sell during the yuletide season, an appeal which did not meet the acceptance of other stakeholders.

     

  • Scarcity amid plenty

    Nigerians last week Monday woke up in most parts of the country to face the ugly oil distribution palaver of the past.

    Scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, hit most cities resulting in long queues and traffic gridlock.

    While some of the petrol stations did not open for business, those that were open were overwhelmed as others sold the product above the N145 ceiling price for one litre.

    The fuel scarcity was a major one since the increase of the pump price of petrol to N145 per litre in May 2016.

    The hike in price of the product in 2016 effectively ended the scarcity and long queues for the product which was very rampant under the past administration.

    Then many Nigerians had to suffer to buy the product, with  which the country is abundantly endowed. In most cases they had to sleep for many days on fuel queues at petrol stations.

    The factors responsible for the latest scarcity, however, appeared to be beyond the government authorities in charge.

    To government officials, the scarcity was artificially created as the quantity of fuel in the country could not be exhausted till end of January 2018.

    Some Nigerians believe that the scarcity was a result of manipulation by oil marketers to make brisk incomes as some of the petrol stations have already increased the price of the product to N165 and above for a litre of fuel.

    Others saw it as the seasonal hardship normally Nigerians usually encounter eeks to Christmas celebration and other major festive periods.

    The scarcity has also resulted in accusations and counteraccusations among the stakeholders on the actual cause of the problem.

    Last week, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) claimed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was delaying the loading of its members’ trucks at depots.

    IPMAN, had claimed that the private deports, belonging to Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) were supplying IPMAN members above the regulated pump price.

    On the other hand, the Depots and the Petroluem Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) accused IPMAN of being economical with the truth.

    DAPMAN claimed that it has been supplying its members’ retail outlets at the official price.

    But the good news about the fuel scarcity problem was that the government agencies in charge have been given matching orders to make sure the scarcity ends by last weekend.

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had said “The Minister of Petroleum had assured the Council that we have enough products till the next one month even till the end of January.

    “Thirdly, this is winter period. There is always more demand for refined products for petroleum during winter period in the colder countries, this is what we are experiencing now.

    “Also that it has been the NNPC that has been importing but he has assured. The council gave him a matching order that this fuel scarcity should not last beyond this weekend and they are going to work very hard to ensure that it is curtailed. He assured council that there is actually no cause for alarm.”

    Stressing that the scarcity was not part of any plan by the government to increase pump price of the product, he said “No. The government has no intention at all to increase the pump price of PMS.”

    But the government’s intervention should not end with clearing the scarcity of the product if it is really true that the supplies of petrol presently in the country will last till end of January.

    There should be a way to check the marketers and prevent them from taking Nigerians for a ride at will.

    Urgent measures should be taken by the relevant agencies of government for checks and balances to determine the cause of the scarcity in other to prevent future occurrence.

    They should be up and doing in their inspectorate and supervisory functions over the oil marketers.

    They should find out if the oil marketers were really the cause of the artificial scarcity.

    Some of the questions they should find answers to include ‘Why did most petrol stations selling up till end of November 2017, suddenly locked their stations first week of December?’, ‘Do they really have fuel in their fuel tanks and refused to see?’ ‘Why are some of the marketers selling above the government approved price per litre?

    During the week, many Nigerians applauded the report claiming that some officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) sealed up four filling stations in Edo State for selling fuel above government price of N145 per litre.

    But that is not enough because there are many of such petrol stations across the country trying to cut corners in this period.

    The government agencies should also not shy away from recommending appropriate sanctions for any erring oil marketer to act as deterrence.

    The government should also beam its searchlight at the nation’s porous borders to know if the fuel meant for consumption in the country are again finding its way to neighbouring countries.

     

    Race for number one seat 

    Major political parties in the country are yet to pick their presidential candidates for the forthcoming 2019 presidential elections, let alone the smaller politically parties.

    Neither have the parties signal the beginning of their election campaign.

    But the race for the number one public seat in the country appears to be gathering momentum.

    Latest utterances in the polity across the country are clearly showing that the race for the seat is already on.

    If the February 2019 proposed date for the conduct of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is anything to go by, the current administration still has minimum of fourteen months to deliver the goods to Nigerians.

    As much as possible, distractions should be avoided for the long time benefit of Nigerians. They should get value for money in all areas of governance.

     

  • Fed Govt inaugurates cancer-treatment centre

    Fed Govt inaugurates cancer-treatment centre

    The Federal Government has inaugurated a radiotherapy centre with new multilevel linear accelerator equipment for cancer treatment. It is situated at the National Hospital Abuja.

    Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo unveiled the centre and the equipment. This is to rekindle the hope of the average Nigerian on the philosophy of the change mantra as made by the APC during the electioneering campaign.

    The journey to this feat started in late last year when the Minister of Health,  Prof Isaac Adewole paid a working visit to the hospital to assess the state of its infrastructure. He discovered that a brand new radiotherapy machine was purchased and supplied in 2013. An investigation showed that the machine was not assembled or installed but still in the crate of the manufacturer.

    Part of the challenges was the inability to construct a bunker where the machine will be placed to operate immediately. The minister ensured necessary and timely approval was secured from President Muhammadu Buhari  to fast-track the completion of the abandoned construction of the bunker which was increased from one to two to accommodate more radiotherapy machines. The replacement of the non-functional components of the equipment, the upgrading, the increment in bandwidth capacity and installation of the radiotherapy machine, with accompanying training of medical staff to South Africa, were all done.

    A study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC in collaboration with National Cancer Institute USA revealed that 12.7 million new cases of cancer were discovered in 2008 with 7.6 million cancer-related deaths recorded. In 2012, the number of deaths globally has increased by 100 percent to 14 million with a threatening projection that by the end of 2030, 30 million people representing 39.6 percent of both men and women living with cancer will die.

    “An overview of this frightening analysis further revealed that 56 percent of the newly reported cancer cases occurred in developing countries with Africa having the highest number of morbidity and mortality, owing to a geometric increase in population growth with the commonest of cervical, breast and prostate cancer leading the chart. Sadly, Nigeria has the highest concentration of cancer cases in Africa as 100,000 new cases occur yearly and 15 percent death recorded representing 20 percent of Africa`s death ratio,” he noted.

    Prof Adewole noted that the most unfortunate perspective to the menace is the myopic view that cancer is a disease of the rich and wealthy, whereas studies have shown that the poor and downtrodden are also suffering in silence, they have accepted as fate, as such death sentence when confronted with the cancer disease as they cannot afford the cost of management.

    He added: “Sadly again, just like every critical sector of Nigeria before the advent of the Buhari administration which was in an appalling state, there was no single federal health facility where radiotherapy could be performed in Nigeria, as seven out of the teaching hospitals where such diagnostic equipment was totally in bad shape and nonfunctional, making Nigeria loose foreign exchange in medical tourism to countries like India, China, South Africa and even Ghana. Now, Nigeria can halt medical tourism with this center”.

    Mrs Osibajo observed that when President Muhammadu  Buhari nominated Professor Adewole, a renowned  and seasoned medical professional with an intimidating profile with enviable successes, a man who was at a time the President Elect of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) saddled responsibility to fashion a five year strategic plan for the organisation and develop Capacity of African Physicians and Nurses to manage, treat and prevent cancer , there was a ray of hope for cancer patients as he categorically and expressly promised to build seven state of the art centre of excellence for cancer management in the country, however, owing to the global economic meltdown which plunged Nigeria into recession and the huge deficit of 48 percent in expected revenue, the promise by the professor of obstetrics and gynecology becomes gloomy and unrealisable in the past months.

    Mrs Osinbajo lauded the efforts of the federal ministry of health and the hospital management for making the facility a reality. She described the death of close to 15000 Nigerians annually as unimaginable and assured that the present administration under the leadership of President Buhari will ensure that quality health delivery system is restored.

    “I look forward to a day that the cure of cancer shall finally come but I am delighted that despite limited resources, the country is taking giant strides in the right direction, with the installation of the machine, there is hope for cancer patients as they will be helped with the facility”.

    The minister for health, Dr Osagie Ehanire on his part lamented the decay in medical infrastructure inherited by this administration in terms of equipment, logistics and foreign relations with international partners. He explained that based on the review of the international atomic energy of all countries conducted in 2013, only South Africa and Egypt have the material capability of treating and managing cancer, he further reassured the commitment of the government to upgrade seven other cancer centres in the 2018 budget in order to minimise the burden of cancer and associated death rates, re-emphasizing the positive effect the machine will have on other vital organs of the body when the precise diagnosis is carried out”.

    He said the encouraging report about the entire radiotherapy project at the national hospital is that about a 100 cancer patients can now use the machine daily , the urge and zeal for medical tourism will be on the decline as the newly installed machine is one of the most advanced and sophisticated technology in the world with standard ratings with what is obtained in European countries, India and South Africa.

    Prof Oyewole also got the financial commitment of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company SNEPCO to the tune of over $1million for the purchase of another brand new LINAC radiotherapy equipment to be installed in a second bunker at the National Hospital by January 2018. The NDDC equally promised to install the same equipment at the University of Uyo and University of Port Harcourt teaching hospitals while the Kano State Governor has signified intention to purchase a brand new LINAC radiotherapy equipment.

    The drive of the President Buhari led the administration to completely overhaul the health system in Nigeria is fast gaining momentum as his vision for the revitalisation of functional Primary Healthcare Centres PHCs has yielded 1100 facilities already with the second phase of 774 under construction, which will in turn reduce the unnecessary pressure on the secondary and tertiary medical centres as they will be a place of reference to manage topical disease associated with our region like malaria, hypertension, vaccination and immunisation, tuberculosis, ante and postnatal care etc.

    Dr Ehanire said another milestone which will herald the birth of preventive medical practice in the country is the commencement  of the screening of 250,000 Nigerians both men and women who are above the age of 50 to breast, cervical and prostate cancer by the Federal Ministry of Health in all the federal teaching and medical centres in the countries free of charge who hitherto cannot afford the bills attached to such screening.

    Also, there will be the purchase of anti-retroviral drugs for 2,000,000 people, carrying out of 10,000 free cataract surgeries and free treatment of 800 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Hepatitis C infection. “The age-long saying that health is wealth is gradually becoming a reality in the Nigeria of today as it relates to the implementable agenda of the APC led administration in the health sector which will drastically reduce the unfortunate incidence of medical tourism where over $1billion is lost annually, retracing our steps has been configured by the present leadership of the health ministry and all we could do is to be partners in progress for the actualisation of a safe and disease free Nigeria,” he added.