The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • SUCON to Nigerians: Engage qualified surveyors in building construction

    The Registrar, Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SUCON), Mr Sulemain Hassan, has advised Nigerians investing in building construction, especially houses, to engage the services of qualified surveyors.

    Hassan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    According to him, the call becomes necessary for owners of such structures to get value for their money and check building collapse in the country.

    He said SUCON had more than 3,000 registered surveyors with the right knowledge and skills to do the job, adding that there is no basis for Nigerians to patronise quacks.

    Hassan expressed concern that not many of the surveyors were not utilised in the construction industry country, adding that their services would ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

    The registrar further noted that the surveying profession which he described as very vital in every sector of the economy such as road construction, building among others was being sidelined.

    He said that experience had shown that those who patronised the services of qualified surveyors recorded less losses or no loss of resources at all in such endeavour.

    The registrar blamed other professionals for being the problem of the surveyors.

    “I have always said that the professionals in other fields are part of our problem; a professional should only concentrate on jobs within his or her field.

    “We should be able to draw a line between a core training and training that is not our own, a true professional should isolate his or her job from that of others’’.

    The registrar criticised the situation whereby surveyors are made to work in the background due to non recognition of their role by the public.

    “The surveyor is actually working from the background because this is a profession that exists in the society where the measurement of your performance is measured vertically.

    “The civil engineer builds the road, he is seen as building the road, the builder builds the house, the architect draws the building plans and people see it but prior to all these the surveyor will chat the course.

    “He will do all the first line investigations to make sure the project is fit to stand the test of time, and monitors construction of road, house from the beginning to the end”.

    Hassan said that for every construction project to last long, the services of a surveyor was needed, adding that the surveyor was formally the first and last person in any project.

    The registrar called on professionals in every sector of the economy to carry out only jobs within their sector for effective and efficient result.

     

  • Businessman jailed seven months for cheating

    A Grade 1 Area Court, Kado, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced one Victor Chaiha to seven months’ imprisonment for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The presiding judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, however, gave him an option to pay N9,000 fine.

    Ado also ordered him to refund the sum of N190,000 to the complainant within two weeks, with an advice to be a decent businessman.

    The convict, who resides at Angwan Shaho Karmo, Abuja, was convicted of the two-count charge
    against him.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, told the court that one Jonathan James of Karmo village, reported the matter at the Karmo Police Station on March 15.

    Dalhatu said that the complainant, on March 6, entrusted the convict with the sum of N190,000 to deposit into his (complainant) Diamond Bank account at Wuse Zone 5 Abuja.

    He said that the convict fraudulently converted the money to his personal use and that all efforts to recover the money had proved abortive.

    During police investigation, the convict confessed to have committed the said crime.

    Before being sentenced, the convict prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying that the money got missing.

    The prosecutor said that the offence was punishable under Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Labourer bags three months imprisonment for theft

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 35-year-old labourer, Shaibu Abas, to three months imprisonment for stealing a cell phone worth N64, 000.

    Abas, a resident of Utako area, Abuja, had pleaded guilty to two- count charge of joint act and stealing levelled against him.

    The judge, Mr Abubakar sadiq, however, gave the convict N15,000 option of fine and warned him to be of good behaviour and desist from committing crimes after serving out his punishment.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs Auhioboh Florence, had informed the court that on March 16, one Victor Ubasi of No. 5 Adeyinki Adeoti Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja, reported the case at Utako Police Station.

    Florence said that the complainant parked his car opposite a beer parlour at Wuse 2, whiles the convict and his accomplices, now at large, forcefully opened the car and removed the item.

    She said the accused and his gang stole a Tecno cell phone, valued at N64, 000 and ran away.

    The prosecutor said that the convict was arrested and he confessed to have sold the cell phone at N18, 000, to one Destiny at Wuse market.

    Florence said that the item was yet to be recovered and the offences contravened Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code

     

  • CBN optimistic of rates convergence at FOREX market– Emefiele

    CBN optimistic of rates convergence at FOREX market– Emefiele

    Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the apex bank is determined to see the convergence of rates at the foreign exchange market.

    Emefiele said this while fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the CBN in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The CBN governor denied insinuations in some quarters that it was directed by the National Executive Council (NEC) to intervene at the FOREX market before it started injecting money into the interbank market.

    “NEC did not direct the CBN as is being insinuated in some quarters.

    “We have seen the trend and we took decision to revise it through our FOREX intervention,’’ Emefiele said.

    The governor said that the CBN was optimistic that the rate between the official and parallel market would converge further.

    When asked if the CBN could sustain the policy, Emefiele said that the bank had the capacity to take decisions and implement them.

    He noted that the nations’ foreign reserves had improved further to 31 billion dollars.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MPC rose from its meeting with a retention in the Monetary Policy Ratio (MPR), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 22.5 per cent and liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

    Since February when the CBN started its intervention at the interbank market, it had injected more than 1.5 billion dollars, and the Naira had extended its gains against the dollar.

    To further sustain its intervention at the market, the apex bank injected another 180 million dollars on Monday to meet the needs of schools, medicals, business and personal travel allowances.

    NAN reports that in January, the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) appealed to the CBN to ensure rate convergence as well as eliminate the multiplicity of rates in the market.

    Meanwhile, the Naira had continued to appreciate at the parallel market, exchanging at N420 (buying rate) and N430 (selling) on Tuesday afternoon.

    The Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N530 and N450 respectively.

  • Nigeria’s economy cannot sustain Lake Chad water transfer project – Minister

    Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu says the Nigerian economy cannot sustain the demands of the proposed inter-basin water transfer from the Congo River Basin to the Lake Chad Basin.

    The minister said this in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with newsmen.

    Adamu said that the inter-basin water transfer project could not be funded by the Federal Government alone, adding that the process might not be sustainable even if it commenced.

    He said the Federal Government and the Lake Chad Basin Commission were, therefore, seeking alternative ways of channelling the water from the Congo Basin into the lake so as to reduce cost and unforeseen circumstances.

    “I told experts in the Lake Chad Basin Commission that we should consider the water channelling option that will allow the water to flow by gravity; it is something we will work at.

    “Presently, I don’t think the economy of this country can support water transfer yet,’’ he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minister once said that the Federal Government was discussing modalities with relevant stakeholders on how to save Lake Chad from drying up.

    The minister underscored the need to draw international attention to the desiccation of the lake in order to save 47 million people whose livelihoods depended on the lake.

    Adamu said that eliciting international support for the project was imperative since more than 47 million people depended on the resources of the lake for farming, fishing and livestock production as well as water supply for drinking and sanitation.

    NAN reports that the Global Resource Information Database of the UN Environment Programme said that Lake Chad had shrunk by over 95 per cent from 1963 to 1998.

    “However, the 2007 satellite images show significant improvement over previous years,” it said.

    Lake Chad is economically important, as it provides water for more than 68 million people living in the four countries adjacent to it — Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

  • DDI wants strategic reportage of military activities

    The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, has urged the media to strategically report the activities of the military to impact positively not only on troops and Nigerians but also on the international community.

    Enenche, therefore, solicited for accurate and balance reportage of the activities of the armed forces.

    He made the appeal on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga in Abuja.

    Enenche, who was appointed the DDI on March 1, however, noted that NAN had been reporting the military well and urged the agency not to relent in doing that.

    “There is need that we package the news about the armed forces of Nigeria, the Army, Navy and Air Force, with a strategic perspective to have more impact on us and the international community.

    “This is good to encourage our troops in the various theatres of operations.

    “My courtesy call on you is predicated on just one thing and I will not talk too much; you are always a balanced reporter for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which has done us a lot of good internationally, locally and operationally.

    “When you want to know the truth about the news churned out about the armed forces, to a large extent, monitor the News Agency of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    He stressed the need to highlight criminalities going in the North-East and Niger Delta.

    Responding, Onanugu assured that NAN would continue to give priority to the military in its reportage as it was a vital sector.

    “We will continue to partner with the armed forces as long as NAN exists. We so much consider the military important to our operations.

    “All of us know that without security there will be no nation. We have been trying as much as possible to report whatever happens in that sector – military as fairly as possible.

    “You are the armed forces, you are working for all of us in Nigeria, without the armed forces there will be no nation; some rag-tag forces would have overrun everywhere.

    “Count on us, we shall be there for you,’’ Onanuga further assured.

    The managing director, who commended the military for the feat they had achieved in the North-East and other trouble spots, however, lamented that it was being confronted by various security challenges.

    “I pity the Nigerian armed forces, you are living in a very troubled times and all kinds of challenges confronting the military, militancy in the Niger Delta, cattle rustling and others,’’ he said.

    Onanuga further promised that NAN would strengthen its coverage of the Niger Delta to serve as early warning sign to bring to the notice of government and military happenings in that area.

  • Guard docked over alleged theft of medical equipment

    A 25-year-old security guard, Adamu Kawu, accused of stealing medical equipment valued at N500, 000, was on Tuesday brought before a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja.

    Kawu, who resides at Jabi Village, Abuja, is standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and theft.

    The prosecutor, Florence Auhioboh, told the court that Engwa Christian of Jabi reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on March 17.

    Auhioboh said that the complainant alleged that sometimes in February, the defendant, stole his medical equipment valued at N500, 000.

    He said that the defendant also stole N60, 000 belonging to Bassey Evalson of the same address.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 312 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted the defendant bail of N100, 000 and one surety in like sum.

    Sadiq said that the surety must provide any utility bill bearing his name and must be residing within the court jurisdiction.

    He adjourned the case to April 25 for further hearing.

  • Labourer docked for criminal trespass

    A 22-year-old labourer, Godsafe Nanbol, was on Tuesday arraigned in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for alleged criminal trespass and attempt to steal.
    The defendant of no fixed address is standing trial on a two-count charge.
    The prosecutor, Florence Auhioboh, told the court that one Abdullahi Illiyasu, of Kado village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on March 19.

    Auhioboh said that on March 18, the defendant was caught searching Illiyasu’s pocket, while he was sleeping outside his apartment.
    She said during police investigation, the defendant could not explain his mission in the complainant’s compound.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 348 and 95 of the Penal Code.
    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

    The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N5, 000 and one surety in like sum.
    Sadiq said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case till April 25, for further hearing.

     

  • Women: Abuja’s new entrepreneurs

    Women: Abuja’s new entrepreneurs

    The nation’s capital is making a transition from a civil service town to a city of entrepreneurs, thanks to women.  GRACE OBIKE reports

    Time was when all you saw in Abuja was people who worked from Monday to Friday and retired to their apartments at the weekend or travelled out of town. Not anymore. The nation’s capital is fasting shedding its civil service toga and evolving into a city of enterprise.

    But that is just one side of the story. Of greater interest is the fact that women are driving this change.

    The BBC recently reported that 40 per cent of Nigerian women are entrepreneurs, which they say is higher compared to that of the rest of world. In Abuja, women are beginning to change the norm from a city of civil servants and politicians into a city of entrepreneurs, with most of the shops owned by women. Those who cannot afford the exorbitant rates of shops, convert the boots of their cars into shops. What is important is that their business is up and running, and women are in the driving seat.

    It is the norm these days for even the tiniest offices in Abuja to have women visiting regularly to sell various items either on cash and carry basis or on credit.

    Recently, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) Samira Jibir, revealed that FCT female entrepreneurs are increasingly becoming a force to reckon with. She said one of the women making waves in the FCT is a bee farmer whose business has grown to the extent of her exporting her products to the US, Europe and other places.

    Another hugely popular entrepreneur in the FCT is Orya Febronia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ugee Bakery and Confectionaries, makers of the popular Oven Pride bread.

    The owner of the multi-million naira bakery located in Karu explained that being a success-driven female entrepreneur involves more than having sufficient money to start up a business. She said that in order to ensure success in her trade, she travelled abroad for three months to study bakery.

    “After graduation from the university, I wanted to work in in the bank; I got married very early but my husband challenged me to be independent.

    “I didn’t just want to open up a bakery and bake like everyone else, I researched, began sourcing for the machines and went abroad for a three-month course on everything about baking. I was given all the recipes to produce different products; with  that I fell in love with baking.

    “If I see bread, without tasting it, I can tell you what it is made up of. When I came back, it took me three years to put things in order, the starting period was so hectic, I was in the market in Lagos for five years and when my husband moved to Abuja, I moved as well. It was difficult settling for a location but i did not want the City Centre because it is already tight, I decided on a place that will make an impact and will be noticed and appreciated, so i came here, bought the land and constructed  my bakery.

    “ I decided on a different kind of product, we have a lot of health issues these days centered around our way of life, I studied health bread, for instance I decided to put beniseed in my jumbo bread which different from the ingredients found in other breads, because beniseed is very good, so the idea for me is to bake healthy products for my consumers.

    “Apart from the normal bread, I make products that will balance up our health as adults. I am particular about it in my products.

    “I am a believer in the woman’s ability to change her world, I do not see myself as a woman with the strength and passion that I have. I believe that women need to identify what they want and do it right, even if her dream is to be just a wife; women need to understand that men do not want to marry a woman without passion or dreams, what you have upstairs makes you more attractive and not just the beauty.

    “I always tell girls that if they are determined they can make it in whatever they choose to do, I tell them that it is not all about making hair, dressing up and shaking their body when they move, I tell them, people that will stop you on the road will sleep with  you and just walk away but when you start having something real and tangible, the ones that will come after you will not be those on the street.”

    Chief of Karu, Emmanuel Yekwi in whose domain the factory is located, said that it has actually provided a lot of job opportunities for youths in his community.

    He also said, “I like to see young people being innovative, they prove that they can create something for themselves without depending on the government. Young people should be the ones creating innovations in this country. Bakeries in the country have to start reducing the level of sugar in their products, it should be put into consideration to avoid an epidemic in the country.”

    In an interview with The Nation, Samira Jibril explained that entrepreneurs in the suburbs and area councils have better opportunities because it is easier for them to have the location and farms than those in the city.

  • Man docked over N.48m fraud

    A 46-year-old man, Ibrahim Adeparus, was on Monday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, over alleged N486, 000 fraud.

    Adeparus, who denied committing the offence, was granted bail in the sum of N50, 000.
    The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, who granted the bail, also ordered the defendant to provide one surety that must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
    He adjourned the case till June 1 for hearing.

    The defendant of Apo Dutse, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The prosecutor, Donatus Abbah, told the court that one Bola Olajide of Apo, Abuja, reported the matter at the Apo Police Station on March 6.

    He said that the plaintiff met the defendant at a shoprite in Abuja sometime in 2014, and they exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet at the defendant’s house, which they did.

    Abbah added that the defendant gave the plaintiff two cowries and promised to make the plaintiff’s business flourish.
    The prosecutor said that the plaintiff alleged that he gave the defendant N486, 000.‎

    He said instead of the plaintiff’s business flourishing as promised, the business began to deteriorate. ‎
    The prosecutor said the alleged offences contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.