The Nation Newspaper

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  • Disquiet in Senate over FERMA projects

    There was unease in the Senate yesterday about an alleged lopsidedness in siting of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) projects.

    It was during the consideration of the report of the Committee on Works as part of the screening of Nnoli J. Nnaji (Southeast) for appointment as a member of FERMA’s Governing Board.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North), who presented the report, urged the Senate to consider and approve the committee’s recommendation and confirm Nnaji:

    But before he allowed comments, Senate President David Mark urged Eze to ensure that the Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi-Otukpo-Obolla Afor-Enugu road was rehabilitated before the end of the year.

    Eze assured the senators that the road would be fixed immediately after the rains.

    But Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom Northeast) was unhappy.

    He said the road in question “cannot be done because it is not in the 2012 budget.”

    Enang said: “I want to say that the request from the chair for the road to be built cannot be done because it is not in the 2012 budget.”

    According to him, FERMA budget “started almost in one state and ended in one state.”

    He went on: “I’m sorry that I have to raise this on the floor of the Senate.

    “I saw the advertisement that was done by FERMA for roads that are in their budget, it was published in five newspapers.

    “That road you are talking about is not there. The roads start mostly in the Southeast and was concentrated in Enugu State .

    “I’m sorry to say this and that should not be done in the Senate.

    “I am here representing Akwa Ibom State. I am from South South. I am saying this from what is on the record.

    “I am therefore praying that we should stop the budget of FERMA and bring it. Let the money be shared zone by zone.

    “ Let Enugu State alone not take the money that belongs to the entire country.

    Other Senators shouted at him but he was not done yet.

    Enang said no one should be allowed to write the budget for the entire country.

    He added: “Mr. President I want us to even dissolve FERMA because it is not doing what it is supposed to do.

    “One person alone has the opportunity to write in the budget, he diverts everything to his village and starves the entire country.

    “This is not the purpose of Federal Character. Even the village of the Senate President is not there.”

  • ‘Let’s emulate our founding fathers’

    In order to move forward, we need to go back to the vision and drive of our founding fathers. We need to reenact the indomitable spirit of our past leaders who envisaged a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

    That was the challenge thrown to Nigerians by the chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Hon. Kayode Robert.

    The council chief was not advocating regression; he was simply challenging Nigerians to rekindle the spirit that once lifted the country to an enviable height in the comity of nations.

    Robert marshalled out his point at Anglican Primary School, Ile-Oba, Ijanikin, Lagos in his message to the nation at its 52nd independency anniversary.

    The council boss was aware that the country is facing challenges, but he maintained that it has the capacity to surmount them.

    Robert visualised “a new Nigeria where there is maximum security, effective and accessible power supply, free and qualitative education, superb health care delivery and responsive collective leadership, a Nigeria that would hold her head high in the comity of nations and would be respected by all.

    “Our beloved country has its ups and downs, but today affords us the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and celebrate our collective victory over collective effort. In spite of the challenges that we face, my belief is that there are better days ahead of us.

    “As Nigerians, we are known for doggedness, resilient fighting spirit, and it is time for us to move forward in a more determined manner to tackle the various challenges facing us now, especially that of Boko Haram, unemployment, corruption, insufficient power generation, to mention but a few.”

    Robert also seized the opportunity to inform the constituents that his administration has executed several projects, some of which include infrastructural renewal, provision of social amenities, reduction in crime rate, part of which was achieved by by the purchase and donation of six security patrol vans to security agencies. He also mentioned the ultra-modern four-storey office complex for the council workface.

    He added that education has also been boosted in the council and that his administration has constructed three fully equipped nursery and primary schools, apart from renovating existing ones in the council.

    Also, free exercise books, uniforms, desks and benches have been provided for pupils in the council, just as free GCE form are distributed yearly to Ordinary Level candidates. Coaching classes are also organised, in addition to bursary awards to students of tertiary institution.

    “The administration has also recorded significant achievements in the health sector, upgraded the abandoned Era Primary Health Centre to a mini-General Hospital with a laboratory and a morgue,” the cahirman said.

    Other achievements include the construction of drainages with culverts, monthly presentation of prizes to staff to inspire productivity.

    Robert also talked about welfare and poverty alleviation schemes initated and implemented by his administration, including his efforts in uplifting rural dwellers in the council.

    The council Supervisor for Education and library, Prince Waliu Ashafa, said that October 1 is celebrated every year in the council to mark teh nation’s indepence landmark.

    Ashafa praised the council chief for approving the overseas training of youths, adult literacy programme and the instructors in charge of the adult literacy programme.

    Several dignitaries graced the occasion, including the Oloto of Oto, His Highness Oba Josiah Aina and Onijanikin of Ijanikin, Oba Momodu Ashafa.

  • Woman delivers triplets in flood victims’ camp

    A woman from Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State was yesterday delivered of a set of triplets at a flood victims’ camp.

    Though her identity was not revealed, it was learnt that the woman is among those camped at Fr Joseph’s Primary School in Aguleri.

    The widow of the late former Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, representing Anambra North, Margery Okadigbo, relived her experience in Awka, the state capital, when she visited the office of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Mrs Okadigbo, who was in tears, said she wanted to ensure that the relief materials from the Federal Government were distributed by the agency.

    The senator noted that the situation in Anambra State had gone beyond party affiliation, saying it should be a collective responsibility of everybody and not the governments alone.

    She said the woman at the Aguleri camp delivered a set of triplets – all boys – adding that the victims’ conditions were unbearable, especially the women.

    Mrs Okadigbo said: “I am a woman; I know the pains those people are going through. Everybody has been swallowed up by the floods. This is not a good entry for me, seeing my people dying.

    “I have been moving around the seven local government areas in my constituency, to ensure that the people are safe. The only local government in my area, which is still free of the floods, is Oyi. The other six are under water.

    “Not only that, families are being separated as a result of the floods. Many people will die of hunger and starvation. There is a problem in the land.”

    The senator said the National Assembly had called for a supplementary budget because of the problem, adding that many victims would benefit from the government’s relief package.

    According to her, the floods may last longer than expected.

    NEMA yesterday started the distribution of materials from the Federal Government at various camps in Anambra State.

    NEMA’s South East Coordinator Dr Onimode Bamdele was injured when he was evacuating the victims.

  • PDP deplores Ondo debt profile

    The campaign organisation of Olusola Oke/Saka Lawal, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 20 governorship election, has berated Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko over the debt profile of the state.

    The group said Ondo people are unhappy due to the poverty, gloom, frustration and inertia in the last three and a half years.

    It said: “Nobody should be in doubt about the magnitude of the punishment the current tenants of the Government House will receive from the electorate.

    “For example, whereas the Mimiko administration has illegally taken custody of and converted the over N100 billion funds belonging to the local governments every month since February 2009, you cannot find any meaningful project in the local governments.”

    The campaign organisation said the state is under debt burden which has hampered development at the local government level. It added that Governor Mimiko has not fulfilled his electoral promises.

    It said: “The local governments are broke. Workers in 90 per cent of the councils, after agitations and threats, have just been paid the two month salaries owed them by the local governments.

    “It is also alarming that the state government is planning to enter into a N3 billion loan deal with a first generation bank to enable it pay the state and local government employees for September and October. This is apart from the N50 billion loan burden placed on the people by the bond market.

    “No public water tap is working in the state, whereas government spent over N300 million to build a water fountain on the Oba Adesida Highway.

    “With over N600 billion revenue since 2009, it is not surprising why the people are asking the governor to point to one completed or inaugurated road project and any established or facilitated large scale or cottage industry since 2009.

    “Did Mimiko not promise 4,000 jobs within 100 days? Did he not boast of establishing a N5 billion Ore Sunshine Megacity Plaza having 1,000 capacity trailer park, 200 shops 2,000 residential units, hotels, power plant, etc? Did he not promise a N3 billion tomato paste factory at Arigidi Akoko, a N13 billion motor assembly plant at Bolorunduro in Ondo East, an N8 billion cement factory at Okeluse, a N1.8 billion international conference centre, among others? Were billions of naira not released for all these? The people are asking Mimiko to point at any of these projects.”

  • Promises of foreign investments as Entrepreneurship Organisation is launched

    The international group, Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) yesterday launched its 122nd chapter in Lagos, promising to be the trustworthy link for global business exchange.

    The event, held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja climaxed the one-year efforts it took to establish the organisation, which has an uncompromising ethical and integrity standards in Nigeria.

    According to the group’s President, Abdulrazaq Ayodeji Shittu, yesterday’s inauguration portends great prospects for the country. He said the group is coming at an auspicious time when Nigeria is taking the leap to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.

    The group, he said, will serve as the conduit for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), which up till now have eluded Nigeria because of the “trust factor.”

    Shittu said: “I have had the opportunity to participate in some global EO events where more than 700 entrepreneurs showed persistent thirst to invest and network with Nigerian businessmen.”

    “I have no doubt therefore that genuine global business handshakes await any Nigerian entrepreneur who desires to enhance his business horizon by becoming a member of EO, Nigeria chapter.”

    The organisation’s Director of Communication, Dele Agekameh said: “The selection process is rigorous because there is emphasis on integrity and proper record keeping. We do background checks because we have seen that many business people are not entrepreneurs but only portfolio contractors.”

    According to Vincent Brown Molokwu, who was dubbed “Father of EO Nigeria,” more than 300 applications were received from prospective members but only 16 people, who passed the integrity test were registered.

    Molokwu told The Nation he suffered discrimination in South Africa’s oil and gas industry because “they just do not want to do business with you once they know you are a Nigerian.” However, he broke through after consistent ethical practices and integrity.

    “I am happy to have brought EO to Nigeria and it means I can come back to Nigeria now because I have 16 brothers I can trust. I am not in South Africa now, but EO members are there watching over my business. That is what EO stands for,” he said.

    The guest speaker, Hannah Oyebanjo said EO is the missing link needed to maximise Nigeria’s entrepreneurship potential because it brings issues of integrity to the front burner.

    “EO members are going to act as a bridge between foreign investors and Nigerian environment because they are trustworthy,” she said.

    Already, investments running into billions of Naira have started flowing into the country through the 16 registered members. An EO member, Maarten Turkstra, has been planning to do business in Nigeria for the past 10 years but has met dishonest people.

  • Governorship debate holds October 11

    The Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) has said the grand finale of the governorship debate would hold on October 11.

    A statement by the group’s Chairman, Aremu Allimi, said three parties would participate in the last phase of the debate, based on their findings.

    They are the Action Congress of Nigeria, whose standard bearer is Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). Labour Party’s candidate is incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko, while the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate is Chief Olusola Oke.

    Allimi said the debate would be held at the Cultural Centre, Adegbemile, Akure between 5 and 8pm.

  • Boko Haram’ll cause North’s backwardness, says Maku

    The Federal Government yesterday said the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect would make the North to remain backward.

    It decried the security challenges in the region, saying they are capable of making it a perpetually backward region.

    The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the National Good Governance Tour Citizens’ Forum.

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; his Transport counterpart, Senator Idris Umar, and representatives of the Ministers of Water Resources and National Planning were also present.

    Maku said: “That is why I am worried about the North. It’s because we are far behind and we are the ones now courting trouble in places that we need development.

    “The challenges we face in the North can only be solved through a cooperative approach and this is what the federal and state governments are doing. We have met several times with the North’s governors to design a community security architecture that will ensure that traditional rulers are on top of their areas. This is because if you allow trouble in your area, development will run away.

    “I believe we need to work harder on the issue. It is the traditional rulers who should ensure the protection of the infrastructure in their domains. It is their responsibility to watch over their subjects and their activities. If we do not do this, we will not be able to achieve the objective of accelerated development.

    “This country is our own, as you can see in Kwara. Development is ongoing. There are also challenges. We can discuss them; I believe in discussing them positively too. We don’t have to discuss them as if we are the worst people in the world. This is a beautiful country; this is a great country. I believe we have a big responsibility to make it great. We cannot do this until the Federal, state and local governments and the people of this country work together on the same page in ensuring that national priorities are supported in all areas…”

    Ahmed said: “We have security challenges, which are not peculiar to Nigeria. We must surmount them.

    “We should know that we have common enemies: poverty and corruption. We must put our hands together and fight them. When we talk of corruption, people keep looking at those in government – governors, commissioners, ministers. But corruption has eaten into every fabric that makes up Nigeria, especially in the private sector.

    “From the messengers in the private sector to commercial drivers, traders, corruption has eaten deep into the system, like a virus. We must fight it with the last drop of our blood, if we must move forward.”

  • 40,000 for OOU convocation

    The Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State will, on Monday and Tuesday, hold its 17th-21st Convocation ceremonies. About 40,130 students will participate in the ceremony.

    The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya said the school had not held a convocation ceremony in five years.

  • Council chief’s wife mobilises women on community development

    A workshop has been held in Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos to mobilise women for development roles in the council.

    The wife of the council chairman, Mrs Barisi Sanusi organised the workshop.

    The workshop, tagged “The Role of Women in Community Development” was held at the council’s secretariat.

    Addressing the women at the event, Mrs Sanusi stressed the need for women to be active in issues concerning community development, even as she argued that women have not been active in their roles as mothers, helpers and community developers due to what she called institutional, socio-economic and cultural constraints.

    “The times are changing,” she said. “There is now an acceptance that women can and do play vital a role in community affairs, particularly in contributing to the achievement of community security, development and progress.”

    Mrs Sanusi, who emphasised that the role of women can be crucial to the health of a society, noted that women make many of the decisions that determine a household’s participation in the community, including healthcare, educational, and cultural decisions.

    She maintained that “in parts of the world where women’s rights are still developing, the role of women in community development can be the key to reducing gender inequality, providing for the needs of women families, and ending centuries of discrimination against women.

    “As a powerful decision-making force, women are often well acquainted with the pros and cons of their community, and may be in a good position to analyse how best to improve society. As members of community development organisations such as outreach programmes, parent-teacher associations, cultural societies, and city planning boards, women can use the knowledge they garnered from household decisions to make a substantive contribution to the future of their city or town.”

    Defining community development as the process where individuals in the community joined forces to plan and take actions on community problems, Mrs Sanusi said that members of the community identify community problems and needs, plan and conduct activities together using available community resources, adding that it is a process whereby the efforts of individuals in the community are combined with efforts of government and non-government bodies to improve and develop community socially, economically and culturally.

    On how to promote a fair society, Mrs Sanusi noted that in areas of the world where gender inequality pervades, the role of women in community development may be even more significant.

    “When women can be involved in the issues of women’s education, rape and domestic violence prevention, and economic opportunities for women, they stand a greater chance of reducing inequality and promoting a fair society. In communities where the role of women has been traditionally and culturally marginalised, it may take strong, vocal, and persistent female participation to insist that these issues be addressed for the betterment of society.

    “By deploying the power of women in community development to improve gender sensitivity overall, women can help shed light on glaring inequalities, and try to find ways to better the lives of other women in global community.

    “Getting involved in international organisations, women can pull the focus on the plight of women in areas where they are not permitted to have a voice, and make crucial strides towards eliminating gender inequality around the globe,” Mrs Sanusi said.

    She stressed that community development efforts are geared towards achieving social, economic, spiritual and cultural progress, developing functioning community groups and organisations, developing community leaders, improving relationships and cooperation among community members, maximising utilisation of community resources, increasing capacity of the community to face challenges and to encourage planning and conduct of programmes at the community level.

    In her contribution, Mrs Joy Ikechukwu who is a Senior Midwife in one of the hospitals in Lagos advised women to live healthy lives.

    She urged them to engage in frequent or regular physical exercises and to have sex with their husbands on regular basis as this will help in making them look young and healthy. She advised them have regular sound sleep, even as she said eating more walnut, vegetables would make them healthy.

    Mrs Ikechukwu also urged women to avoid alcohol and to drink enough water regularly.

  • LASTMA, KAI officials clean orphanages

    Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Kick against Indiscipline (KAI) have rendered community service at three orphanages and the Yaba Old People’s Home as part of their ongoing career evaluation training.

    According to Senior Special Assistant on Transport Education Dr. Miriam Masha, the one-month long training at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) is designed to bring major reforms for effective law enforcement.

    The orphanages are Idi-Araba Children Transit Home, Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice in Surulere, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home. The officers cleaned the environment and did some chores, besides donating food and utility items to the inmates.

    Mrs Masha said the government is introducing “the reforms” in order to integrate the law enforcement officers into the community and improve their humaneness.

    She said: “We want them to realise that they are serving every day. It is another way of doing their jobs with a clear sense of community service and human dignity.”

    “The on-going reform is to enhance capacity of the traffic and environmental operatives. Our central goal is simply tailored at making a life-time change in the state law enforcement operatives as well as agencies. And the effort will continue. We are not going to stop after this reform programme is thoroughly implemented.”

    A participating official, Ganiyu Akinola, told reporters that the training has “brought out the leadership qualities in every participant. We have been taught how to do our jobs without fear and favour as well as without emotion and sentiment.”

    Also, a KAI official, Olalekan Adebayo, said: “We have been made to realise how to go about our core responsibilities in a way that serve public interest better. We are to serve the people and communities first and foremost. We are not supposed to terrorise them. We are taught to educate and enlighten them whenever they flout law and breach public order.”