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Tag: Abuja

  • UNESCO / FCTA to graduate ICT trainees

    UNESCO / FCTA to graduate ICT trainees

    The United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), on Friday, said that the second batch of trainees on YouthMobile Project would graduate on Oct. 30.

    Mr Olushola Macaulay, the National Professional Officer, Communication and Information Sector of UNESCO made this disclosure at the review of the ongoing training of youths on YouthMobile Project.

    The programme was organised by UNESCO in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Abuja.

    He said that the programme was to improve the Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills of youths as well as make them economically self-reliant.

    According to him, the project graduated its first batch of 100 trainees in September.

    Mr Akindayo Akindolani, the Managing Consultant and a facilitator of the programme, said the training would create employment for the youth.

    “The training will keep the youth off the streets because they will earn a living by marketing the acquired skills,” he said.

    According to him, the youth can develop applications that will improve the ICT sector in the country.

    He said it would be easier to attract government support to local application developers if their innovations impressed the government.

    Ms Grace Kuzana, a trainee in the Networking Programme, said she would apply the knowledge acquired in developing her business.

    Mr Henry Nduka, another trainee, lauded UNESCO and the FCTA for making the programme available for the youths, adding that ICT was currently in high demand globally.

    The project which started in July, is aimed at empowering no fewer than 400 youths on Mobile Apps Development and Entrepreneurship.

    NAN

  • Stakeholder to Buhari: Don’t ignore Kachikwu’s memo

    Stakeholder to Buhari: Don’t ignore Kachikwu’s memo

    More reactions on Thursday trailed the memo of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging the unilateral award of $25billion contract by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru. 

    The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) Technical Adviser, Dr Dauda Garuba urged the president to wade into the crisis because $25billion is too huge an amount to consummate its contract without due process.

    Whichever way one looks at it, $25 billion is too huge an amount to build contracts around without due process. We are supposed to be a country guided by rules and procedures. We must make Nigeria work.

    Garuba said that if it is established that there are infractions as alleged by the Minister of States for Petroleum Resources, the necessary sanctions must be deployed.

                   Related: Kachikwu protests award of $25b contracts by NNPC

    He insisted that Mr President must demonstrate that he meant business when he promised Nigerians to reform the oil sector. 

    He expressed fear that the revelation came only when there was a ray of hope that the sector was being reformed.

    Garuba, an advocate of transparency accountability in the oil and gas sector, noted insisted that sector cannot afford to reverse its reform in the last two years.

                   Trending: Ogun state owes N103b debt – Amosun

    He said that: “I must say that it is unfortunate that the Nigeria public is being unenviably treated to unpleasant developments in the oil sector. If you ask me, this is coming at a wrong time in our history. Just when we are expecting a reform of the sector so that it can deliver the country out of the wounds, we are having to deal with this. 

    “So much progress has been recorded in the reform of the oil sector in the last two years that Nigeria cannot afford to turn back the hand of the clock. I know Nigerians are yet to hear from the other side.

    “It will be fair that those who leaked the memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to President Muhammadu Buhari also live up to their sophistry in access to secret information by obliging Nigerians the response by the Group Managing Director of NNPC. President Muhammadu Buhari must step in and do the needful.”

  • NNPC recommissions Ibadan depot 

    NNPC recommissions Ibadan depot 

    Products supply and distribution have received a huge boost in Oyo State and the South West region of the country, following the re-commissioning of the Ibadan Depot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday.

    Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, who flagged off the resumption of loading operations at the Depot, said the re-commissioning was in fulfilment of the Presidential mandate of revamping the nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure for the benefit of the citizenry.

    “It is one of the key mandates of the present administration to revamp these abandoned assets and put them back to work for the overall security and improvement of petroleum products supply and distribution for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Dr. Baru stated.

    The GMD noted that Nigeria’s energy supply security is underpinned by a robust pipeline network of over 8000km used for the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas, of which NNPC has the largest downstream footprint with over 5,120km of pipeline network and 21 depots spread around the country.

    He, however, expressed dismay that over the years, these critical national assets had become the subject of incessant vandalism, theft and sabotage which result in huge loss of revenue, lives and property as well as serious damage to the environment.

    The corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu made this disclosure in a statement yesterday.

    He quoted Baru as saying that “It is rather unfortunate that any time oil pipelines and associated facilities are vandalized, our ability to supply petroleum products to the nation is hampered, and the livelihood of many law abiding people negatively impacted.”

    He informed that since coming on board, the NNPC has re-streamed a number of its pipelines, leading to a massive resumption of loading operations in Depots within those areas.

    Baru said NNPC had rehabilitated its System 2E (Port Harcourt to Aba), System 2D (Kaduna to Kano) and the Atlas Cove to Mosimi segment of the System 2B pipeline, which has led to the commissioning of Aba, Kano and Mosimi depots.

    While noting that efforts were also underway to re-commission the remaining parts of the System 2B pipeline (Mosimi to Ore depot and from Ibadan to Ilorin depot), the GMD also announced the conclusion of rehabilitation work on the System 2E (Aba – Enugu) pipeline segment.

    “Very soon, these depots will experience the impact of our collective resolve to get the critical infrastructure back on stream,” he added.

    He commended the Oyo State Government for its consistent support over the years, which has immensely contributed to safeguarding NNPC’s Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) that feeds the Ibadan Depot.

    Responding, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described the resumption of loading operations in the area as “a great development which would have a major impact on the socio-economic well-being of Oyo people and the entire South West region.

    “Today, I am happy because the resuscitation of this depot has brought about a great impact on our economic value chain which will be seen in commerce, industry and employment generation for our people” the Governor stated.

    Governor Ajimobi also heaped praises on the GMD, calling him “a reformer, transformer as well as an actualiser” who has been working tirelessly to achieve the Corporation’s objectives.

    “Having worked in this place as Area Manager for National Oil back in the eighties, I can tell you that this is the first time in many years that a sitting GMD is giving these facilities the attention they so much deserved,” the Governor noted.

    While assuring the GMD of his support towards securing NNPC’s Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) across the state, the Governor pledged to provide vehicles for security operatives patrolling pipelines within the state.

    In their separate remarks, critical downstream stakeholders of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and National Road Transport Owners (NARTO) all commended Dr. Baru for ensuring the re-streaming of numerous depots across the country which has led to the robust product supply and distribution across the country.

    It would be recalled that in May this year, the GMD was in Kano to re-commission the Kaduna-Kano pipeline.

  • Kachikwu’s petition: CSO seeks conclusion of PIGB

    Kachikwu’s petition: CSO seeks conclusion of PIGB

    The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), on Thursday, called on the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to conclude the passage and assent of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    A conclusion of the enactment, according to the Civil Society Organization, will forestall the reoccurrence of the issues in the oil and gas sector that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu alleged against the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru in his petition to President Buhari.

    The petition was on the arbitrary award of $25 billion contracts, insubordination, among other infractions of the NNPC boss.  

    ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor made the call for the enactment of the PIGB  in a statement to journalists in Abuja yesterday. 

    He applauded the Senate for moving quickly to unravel allegations of inappropriateness levelled by the Minister of State, noting that the response of Mr President concerning the allegations of disregard for due process in the award of contracts by the NNPC GM, would define the perception of the reforms which have been going on in the oil sector.

    Ugolor said that “Since the Senate has waded into the matter, we suggest that Mr President as well must invite the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to carry out a comprehensive and forensic audit of the allegations. 

    “Among statutory functions of the NEITI include the regulation of matters related to the due process in the award of contracts in the extractive sector of the Nigerian sector.

    “We believe that the inconsistencies being thrown up by the startling revelations from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources include some of the issues which the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill seeks to address and redress’, the Rev Ugolor has pointed out.”

    The statement noted that in anticipation of such a rift in the industry, ANEEJ anticipated wrote an online petition. 

    The statement reads in parts: “The present administration since inception has defined itself first through its corruption stance, and more by the reforms it has introduced in the oil sector. It scrapped the opaque oil swap which made it possible for individuals within government to line their pockets with millions of dollars and has replaced it with the Direct Sale, Direct Purchase scheme.

    “That lofty plan of Direct Sale, Direct Purchase stands in jeopardy if all the contracts that have been awarded and the companies they have been awarded are not subject to thorough vetting and investigations by both the Senate and the NEITI.” 

  • Court to resume trial of Amosu, others Nov. 7

    Court to resume trial of Amosu, others Nov. 7

    The trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu and 10 others charged with N22.8 billion fraud, was on Thursday in Lagos adjourned until Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.

    A Federal High Court gave the ruling following the absence of the counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

    He was, however, represented by Mr A. Emeka.

    Amosu was on June 29, 2016, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC ) alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga and eight companies.

    The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BIC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon HealthCare.

    The case which was earlier adjourned for continuation of trial on Thursday was shifted to Nov. 7.

    When the case came up for hearing, a counsel, Mr A. Emeka, announced appearance as standing in for the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who, he said, was at the Court of Appeal for another case.

    He informed the court that he was not fully abreast of the case but that he sought to handle the case until Oyedepo was available to continue with the trial.

    He, however, agreed to an adjournment.

    The prosecution’s witness (name withheld) and the defence counsel were in court.

    The accused are standing trial on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and money laundering before Justice Mohammed Idris.

    They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.

    The accused were alleged to have indirectly converted N3.6 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.

    The EFCC also alleged that Amosu and the others stole over N323 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015.

    The commission said the money was utilised for the purpose of purchasing for themselves a property situated at No.1, River St., Wuse II, Abuja.

    The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition ) ( Amendment ) Act, 2012.

    NAN

  • Court docks man for dangerous driving

    Court docks man for dangerous driving

    The police on Thursday arraigned a 30-year-old driver, Daniel Onuh in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, over dangerous driving.

    Onuh, who resides at Daki-Biyu, Abuja, is facing two-count charge.

    The prosecutor, Florence Avhioboh, told the court that the defendant allegedly drove a Toyota Camry car in a dangerous manner along Obafemi Awolowo Express Way Abuja on Sept. 10.

    Avhioboh said Onuh drove from speed lane to service lane and run into Joshua Abotal of University of Abuja and damaged his car and it would cost N300,000 to fix it.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 18 and 29 and of the Road Traffic Act.

    However, the defendant denied committing the offences and the judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum.

    Sadiq ordered that the defendant’s car be kept in police station.

    He said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must present utility bill carrying his name as he adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for further hearing.

    NAN

  • Boroh, others for World Habitat Award

    Boroh, others for World Habitat Award

    The World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation ( WHAF ) says it will honour Brig- Gen Paul Boroh ( Rtd ), Special Adviser on Niger Delta to President Muhammad Buhari for his humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours.

    Amb. Hillary Emoh, Principal Consultant of WHAF in an interview with on Wednesday in Abuja, said other notable individuals would also be honoured on Oct. 8 in Abuja.

    Emoh explained that the essence of the award was to honour and celebrate effort by outstanding individuals, organisations and government parastatal that had contributed to the growth and development of the society.

    “Each year, WHAF in partnership with other international organisations organises the World Habitat Humanitarian and Philanthropic Award for Excellence and the Miss UN-World Habitat contest.

    “The 2017 edition will honour Boro, Evangelist Michael Diden (Ejele), High Chief (Amb) Gabriel Oyibode Foundation; President/Founder, Gabriel Oyibode Foundation, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Hassan Abdullahi Baiwa.

    “Others are Director-General, NOSDRA, Sir Peter Idabor, Hon Godwin Ebosa; Chairman, Board of the Delta Oil Producing Area Development Commission ( DESOPADEC ).

    “Georgia State Representative, Hon James Beverly from the U.S., Lady Charity Nwakolam Ohadiugha, President of ‘Creative Minds’, Martine Maignan, Founder, Prince Osisioma Foundation, Prince Onyeka Eze among others.” Emoh said.

    WHAF is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to achieving the set-goals for urban development, sustainable shelter, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

    “WHAF is working to help people access decent healthy and secured housing through identifying innovative housing policy and practice, promoting these ideas, and supporting the exchange and transfer of good practices.

    “WHAF has over the years been working in collaboration with other agencies, organisations, and institutions in Africa, Canada and the United States of America,” he said.

    NAN

  • FG to release proceeds of N100bn Sukuk bond to Ministry

    FG to release proceeds of N100bn Sukuk bond to Ministry

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has disclosed that proceeds of the N100 billion Islamic bond, Sukuk, will be released to the Ministry of Works on Thursday.

    Adeosun made this known when she appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation of the Senate on Tuesday in Abuja to brief it on level of implementation of the 2017 budget.

    She said that the Federal Government ( FG ) successfully completed the Sukuk bond last week and raised N100 billion, which would be released on Thursday.

    “The Sukuk funds are earmarked for roads and will be released on Thursday this week.

    “We have kept the capital spending going to ensure that efforts to improve the economy are continuous and seamless.

    ”There was no interruption in the activities of Ministries, Department and Agencies to ensure that they continued with their projects.

    ”The N100 billion Sovereign Sukuk, which debuted last month, has a tenor of seven years, and has been certified as ethically compliant by the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of experts of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ),” she said.

    The minister noted that of the N2.18 trillion 2017 budget for capital expenditure, N341billion had so far been released.

    She said that the cumulative releases on current expenditure so far was N1.5 trillion, adding that N129 billion had been released for statutory transfers and N38 billion for pensions.

    She added that N92 billion had been released for overhead cost while Service Wide Votes was N224 billion.

    The 2017 Budget of N7.44 trillion has Statutory Transfers provision of N434 billion, N1.8 trillion for Debt Servicing, N177.5 billion for Sinking Fund for Maturity Bonds and N2.99 trillion for Recurrent Non-Debt Expenditure.

    NAN

  • Customs breaks records with 1of3 female management

    Customs breaks records with 1of3 female management

    • Gives management three months to reduce smuggling 

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday broke the global record of appointing women as 1/3 of its management staff. 

    The Comptroller-General Hameed Ali, who made this known while decorating five Deputy Comptrollers General and eight Assistant Comptrollers General in Abuja, said that the promotion and decoration was the “first time that the service was abiding by the Beijing Conference resolution on women.”

    He explained further: “I am bringing to the notice of this gathering that this is the first time that the Nigeria Customs Service will be abiding by the Beijing Conference Resolution. Today, out of the 18, management members of the Nigeria Customs Service, we have six women. Out of six DCGs, we have two women. So that is one-third of the members. Out of 18, we have six.”

    According to him, one of the points that were highlighted in the last Word Customs Organization (WCO) was the issue of equality between women and men.

    The elated Customs boss said: “I am glad to tell the Secretary General of the WCO that the Nigeria Customs Service was the first to meet that criterion.”

    Those that were decorated were DCG Aminu Dangaladima, DCG Augustine Chidi, DCG Sule Robert Alu, DGG Patience Iferi, and DCG Ronke Olubiyi.

    The service also decorated eight Assistant Comptrollers General.  

    The Customs boss disclosed to the officers that “we are not doing very well in covering smuggling. Ensure in the next three months we reduces smuggling to the barest minimum. We must reduce smuggling of especially rice. I keep getting the news that rice is coming. We have to stop the influx of rice into this country.”

    Continuing, Ali told the newly decorated officers that their new rank means a call for more work as their promotion was even consequent upon performance and hard work.

    He said that the officers had gone through thick and thin in the service, adding that most of them were already nicknamed owing to their commitment to duty.

    The promotion from Comptroller to Assistant Comptroller General comes from a different perspective in addition to merit and hard work. 

    He told them that the few that were selected should be grateful to God. 

    Ali said that “this is the first time I will take responsibility of selecting the management. Your failure will be my failure so I pray you don’t let me down.”

  • Osinbajo hails creative industry

    Osinbajo hails creative industry

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has hailed the creativity and ingenuity of Nigerian artistes which they have deployed to project the image of the country.

    He made the commendation after watching a grand performance of the cultural troupe, Wakaa the Musical, on Monday night at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

    Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Information Minister Lai Mohammed were part of the dignitaries that watched the cultural fiesta.

    Osinbajo, who described the event as trilling said: “I have never seen anything like this before; it is absolutely incredible; this is wonderful.’’

    The producer of the theatre group and Chief Executive of Terra Culture, Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters, while welcoming guests to the occasion said it was the group’s way of promoting creativity in the industry among Nigerian youths.

    “Art is still taking the back stage in the country but we are prepared to boost it greatly due to the diversification drive of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “This industry is not what to be ashamed of and the youths  can really make a living out it in spite of what one studied in school.

    “We need to look at the kind of education that we give to our young people so that they can be self- employed and increase their financial status,’’ the lawyer-turned artiste added.

    On the message of Wakaa, Austen-Peters said it was a satire and a message of hope, depicting the triumph of good over evil, also of love.

    She thanked the sponsors of the event and stressed the need for the country’s industrialists and philanthropists to “put their money where the message is’’.

    Austen-Peters said that the measure was to encourage more artistes and those in the creative industry to produce higher quality of products to be displayed outside the country.

    NAN