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Tag: Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu

  • Abuja tremor: FG predicts further quakes

    The Presidential Committee set up on the recent earth tremor that occurred in Abuja have predicted the possibility of more tremors in the country soon.

    The committee submitted that based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.

    Read Also:Earth tremor: Nigerians warned against blasting of rocks

    Chairman of the committee and Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Prof. Seidu Mohammed said that currently about 110,000 boreholes have been sunk in Abuja with 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily.

    Speaking at the submission of the committees report to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, Mohammed added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures of Abuja.

    He also said that the imbalance is further caused by about 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily from Abuja boreholes.

    His words, “The latest occurred in September 7th of 2018 in Abuja with Mpape as epicenter. These earthquakes may have been of low-magnitudes, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation.

    “The report of the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations carried out in 1978 by Julius Berger for Abuja identified Mpape as a Shear zone that is weak with several fractures and fault system. Water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures. Currently, there are 110,000 boreholes within Abuja metropolis with about 330, 000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily. This is not sustainable.

    “In the light of the above, the spots and locations identified and considered as earthquake prone areas in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general, need to be further studied and continuously monitored. There is also the need to carry out detailed vulnerability studies of the identified seismic hot spots in Nigeria.

    “Based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, we confirmed that the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.

    “There is the need to regulate the exploitation of ground water resources of Abuja via indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because this has been the primary reason for the stress build up leading to the Abuja tremors of 5th-7th September, 2018.

    “Government should release fund for the training of Geophysicist, Geologists, Engineers, Technologists and researchers to participate in earth science research, in order to improve our understanding of Nigerian and West African geophysics and tectonics dynamism. We emphasize that this research has crucial societal ‘value as it is evident in earthquake hazard readiness and mitigation.”

    Dr. Onu in his remark said that the committee will continue its research after the submission and asked the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to develop seismic building code that can resist tremors in future.

  • Fed Govt, LCCI to deepen partnership for economic development

    The Federal Government said it would deepen its relationship with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to boost the national economy.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, spoke in Abuja when he received the Chamber’s representatives in his office.

    According to him, the aim of such collaboration was to strengthen Private-Public Partnership (PPP) towards national development.

    “Ministry of Science and Technology is at the centre of all economic activities and partnering  the Chamber of Commerce is a right step the country is taking.

    “The Ministry is not only looking for foreign investors, but also local investors and partners that will lead the way for the foreign investors as the country is looking into various areas of technologies.

    “We want the Chamber to come in and take advantage of the work that we have done, to complete our research activities and come up with a product that we can develop further to put in the market. We are willing to give this to you as we want Nigerian firms to take advantage of this,” Onu said.

    The minster said LCCI was not new to science and technology, adding that it had been in existing for 130 years and had been a part of every technology in the country.

    Chairman of Construction and Engineering Group of the LCCI, Mr. Leye Kupoluyi, who led the team, said the chamber had been at the forefront of technologies in Nigeria.

    He, therefore, appealed to the minister to further work with the chamber to advance technology growth.

  • Buhari commissions flood, erosion control project in UNICAL

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned and handed over an erosion and flood control project at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    The project was executed by the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the benefit of the University and its environs.

    The President said the project was one of 18 ecological interventions across the six geo-political zones approved by him in the first quarter of 2017 and awarded by the Federal Executive Council on April 5, 2017.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said the project, which spans about two kilometres, is intended to properly channel waste and flood water into a safe discharge point, thereby preventing erosion and flooding within the University community and hence protect lives and property.

    Read Also:UNICAL lecturer, others in court over certificate forgery allegations

    He said the campus was experiencing serious flooding and environmental degradation, which necessitated prompt intervention from the Federal Government.

    He said the successful completion of the project would stimulate and restore structural integrity of the soil within the University community and reduce dangers to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding that had been experienced.

    Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Dr Habiba Lawal, said the project was initiated through appeals by the University authority and commenced in April 2017 with a completion period of eight months.

    Lawal, who was represented by Engr Felix Okeke, urged the University to see themselves as owners of the project for its maintenance and sustainability.

    Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Zana Akpagu, said the project was a big relief to the University, as he described the situation before as a nightmare.

    He expressed appreciation to President Buhari for the gesture, and promised to identify with his programmes.

    He said UNICAL was the only University offering compulsory course in anti-corruption at the general studies level in conjunction with ICPC.

    “The project has given us new hope to open up the university towards this axis. Before now it would have been suicidal,” Akpagu said.

  • Fed Govt to establish science parks in varsities

    Fed Govt to establish science parks in varsities

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has promised to help tertiary institutions establish science Parks to facilitate the diversification of the economy through science, technology and innovations.

    Onu made the promise when he addressed participants at the maiden international conference for science parks and Innovation Ecosystem for National Development (SPIE4ND) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    The Minister said the culture of establishing high-tech clusters should be promoted by tertiary institution administrators, adding that the dividends of investment in Science Park would give rise to new business incubators and technology research centres.

    Dr Onu, who stressed that no nation would achieve greatness without science and technology,  said his ministry was ready to partner and support science and technology innovations geared towards helping the nation transit to knowledge-based economy.

    He explained that the science park project would facilitate the creation and growth of innovation-based companies through incubation and spin-off processes, as well as provide other value-added services with high quality space and facilities.

    Citing Singapore’s achievement, Onu said history showed that countries with smaller population achieved greatness through science and technology, added that Nigeria with larger population could leverage Science Park to improve its economic growth.

    Given that Nigeria is the most populous African country, Onu said the country should set the pace for science and technology revolution in the continent by harnessing indigenous technology. He hailed the vision of the UNN Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, in conceiving the idea of Science Park in the university.

    Onu said: “I assure you that the collaboration between the UNN and the Ministry of Science and Technology would yield positive results that will benefit both organisations mutually and set the pace for development of our country.”

    The Minister said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration remained committed to promoting innovation and technology advancement, with the aim of reducing dependence on importation and enhance local content in the production of goods and services.

    The VC described the workshop as an effort to restore man’s dignity. He said the school had already taken steps towards building a knowledge-based economy for the country.

    According to him, the event aimed at sensitising the academia, researchers, entrepreneurs, government ministries and agencies on the need to acquire skills and training required to build a competitive 21st Century economy.

    The VC said the conference was a follow-up to his trips to Sweden to understudy Science Parks’ operations in the country.

    He said: “This international workshop is our modest effort to domesticate what we learnt in Sweden and help in creating the needed culture of innovation in our country, Nigeria.”

    Professor Emeritus Pius Okeke of Physics and Astronomy Department of the university appealed to the Federal Government to create long-term investment plan in science and technology, saying innovation remains the language of the 21st Century.

    The workshop was attended by experts from Sweden, South Africa and Kenya. Also in attendance were representatives of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry for Trade and Investment, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Customs and other parastatals.

  • FG to give preference to indigenous firms in contract award

    FG to give preference to indigenous firms in contract award

    In an effort to boost indigenous technology and encourage Nigerian entrepreneurs, the Federal Government will soon unveil some incentives to Nigerian firms.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu gave the hints while delivering a keynote address at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 2017 Conference of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) held in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to the Minister, Nigerian firms and companies are now to be given priority in the award of contracts, adding that where Nigerian firms lacked the skills, they would be encouraged to partner with foreign firms that possessed same, adding that Nigerian firms will now be given preference in the scheme of things.

    Dr Onu, who hinted that expatriate quota visas will henceforth not be granted to foreign firms at will where Nigerian Professionals abound, also bemoaned the paucity of indigenous engineers in Nigeria.

    In case, the expatriate quota is given to foreign firms at least 3 Nigerian professionals must be made to work with them from conceptualization to commissioning of the project so as to develop local capacity.

    He called on Nigerian engineers to utilize their skills in view of the prevailing global revolution which put the premium on engineering in economic activities, noting that the richest people in the world are those who used their brain to create wealth.

    Onu bemoaned the paucity of Engineers in Nigeria and also called on Nigerians to show interest in the commercialization of research findings as this will help us to create wealth, provide jobs, reduce poverty as well as stop capital flight.

    The Minister also disclosed that the recently-launched Science, Technology and Innovation roadmap 2017 2030 will trigger industrialization and promote competitiveness in raw materials to add value to our raw materials and guidelines that will guide our projects and contracts.

    He also said that with the National Strategy to promote competitiveness in raw materials, about N3 trillion would be saved by the Federal Government, adding that capital flight would be drastically reduced.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the President National Society of Engineers, Engr. Otis Liver Anyaeji called on the federal government to unbundle some ministries so as to make government business more effective.

    He also called on the federal government to formulate and implement policies on agricultural mechanization, noting that development starts with infrastructural growth.

  • Niger Delta: FG moves to establish oil, gas institute in Bayelsa

    Niger Delta: FG moves to establish oil, gas institute in Bayelsa

    …Orders fingerprinting of crude oil to end pipeline vandalism

     

    The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to establish an oil and gas institute in Bayelsa State as part of ongoing negotiations to tackle developmental problems in the Niger Delta region.

    President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been rolling out palliatives and infrastructural packages to develop human capacity and quell agitation in the region.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, made the disclosure, yesterday, when he visited Yenagoa, the state capital, for some official engagements.

    While paying a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, the minister said the institute would be sited in Odi, a community in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, that suffered military invasion under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Onu, who was received by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) said the institute, when established would improve manpower in the Niger Delta and reduce unemployment in the country.

    He said siting of the institute in Bayelsa was strategic because of the contributions of the state to oil and gas sector in the country.

    The minister said the institute would enhance development of skills among the people of the region to stimulate the local economy and create activities in the oil-producing communities.

    He said: “The institute will not only create jobs and improve skills, but it will also create wealth. We need to develop capacity in oil and gas processes in the country”.

    The minister, who was also in Odi, to inaugurate the ultramodern Bioresources Laboratory complex and the livestock feed milling complex at the Bioresources Development Center (BIODEC),said the government was deploying technology to monitor pipelines and track the country’s oil.

    He said the laboratory would be deployed to investigate pipeline breaches following its capacity to embed fingerprints in oil.

    He said with the facility oil theft would soon be a thing of the past, as the fingerprinting would enable the country to track its crude oil anywhere when stolen and solve the problem of economic sabotage.

    Onu said the fingerprinting of the country’s crude oil would begin at the end of the year insisting that the technology could be deployed in the country.

    He said the country under the current administration had come of age and capable of solving her problems instead of depending on outsiders.

    He said: “This lab, the ultramodern laboratory, I feel very happy; for me, Nigeria is changing. With this capacity here now, we will be able to do many things.

    “I just gave them an instruction that by the end of the year, we should have fingerprinting of our crude oil, so that if anybody steals it we will be able to identify it, because even crude oil can have fingerprints and with the equipment we have here we can do it in Nigeria.

    “One problem that we have is that we rely on outside, from other people to solve our problems. We produce crude oil, we export it, but we now import refined petroleum products.

    “We exports our woods and we bring in toothpicks. We don’t want that anymore and for you to do all this things we rely on others, we have to look inward and we need to build capacity and what this facility is doing for us.

    I just mentioned to you now that you can do genome mapping of our rare crops, plants, animals that are unique to us. We can even have fingerprints of our own crude oil.

    “Normally, this is something we spent a lot of money and you ask other people to do it. Now, when we do it here, it is our person that will do it here, that is how to create jobs, that is how to create wealth because that money you could have sown outside will now be here and be use it here. Even though we are the largest economic in Nigeria, we want to bigger than that that.

    “We also need to fight poverty, if you create jobs, you will fight poverty, if you train people, you fight poverty and that’s what they are doing here and I think we are ready to fight poverty.”

    Also speaking, the Director-General of the Institute, Josiah Habu, said the target of the research center was to bring reliability, quality, originality, innovation and novelty to research and development.

    He said the inauguration of the facilities had officially opened the gateway to a higher level of bioresources prospecting and processing to new products and services.

    Habu said: “For a start, the quest for the DNA of Nigeria crude oil will soon be answered, to enable tracking of Nigeria crude oil flow globally, hence solve national problem of economic sabotage.”

  • Cuba to partner Nigeria in medicine, biotechnology

    Cuba to partner Nigeria in medicine, biotechnology

    Cuba’s  Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Sosa said his country would collaborate with Nigerian government on research in medicine, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

    Sosa made this known when he paid courtesy visit to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the two countries would share ideas in many areas of science and technology.

    “Cuba will collaborate with Nigeria in the areas of training and exchange of innovations through technology and education and create systems for both countries to share models with their counterparts in Cuba,” he said.

    Responding, Onu said the meeting was to strengthen existing cordial relationships with Cuba toward diversifying national economy by utilizing science and technology.

    “This is in line with the present administration’s strategic plan, which is to add value on human resources through research and training, thereby gaining knowledge and be on the frontline of leading economies of the world.

    “Redirecting economy from resource-based to knowledge-based by getting Nigerians to become more productive on issues that will add value to the exploitation of the nation’s natural resources,” he said.

    According to him, ministry’s mandate is to ensure that Nigeria becomes a leading economy through value addition to human capital development in the area of science and technology.

    Onu said that completion of Memoranda of Understanding between Cuba and Nigeria would help Nigeria to be able to acquire technology and innovation in key sectors of the economy.

    “This will enable us add value in revenue generation, provide job opportunities, create wealth and reduce poverty to the barest minimum in Nigeria,” he added.

  • ‘Believe in Buhari’s administration’

    ‘Believe in Buhari’s administration’

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has urged Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to transform Nigeria.

    Onu spoke to the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on the sidelines of an Investment Forum organised by the ministry.

    According to Onu, Nigeria’s future is bright.

    “No matter the challenges and the problems that we have in Nigeria, Nigeria has a bright future because we have intelligent people and even Americans know that Nigerians are very intelligent.

    “We heard that the drone which is being used to kill terrorists in Afghanistan was invented by a Nigerian.

    “So how can a nation, blessed with so many intelligent people not have a bright future?

    “So whatever the problems, just be confident and believe in this administration as it is determined to change Nigeria,” he said.

    The minister said the Federal Government was working assiduously to take the country away from recession to prosperity through its Economic Growth and Recovery Plan.

    Onu, who was the Second Republic governor of Abia, explained that the plan had Science and Technology as its base, adding that this had never happened before.

    “We have recognised that we would not move one foot in the right direction without Science and Technology and as Minister of Science and Technology, I am determined to help the President to transform our economy from resource-based to knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy,” he said.

    He blamed the recession on the failure of the country to diversify its economy since independence, noting that countries like South Korea that diversified their economy were not in recession.

    “Now if you diversify your economy through agriculture and you don’t pay attention to Science and Technology, you will still go back to the same problem.

    “There was a time Nigeria had enough rice to feed her citizens and exported rice to other countries.

    “Don’t forget that there was a time we were the number one exporter of palm oil to the world, but today, we are importing all these items.

    “So it’s because that diversification was not sustainable. You must diversify in a sustainable manner, and to make it sustainable, tt must be based all on Science and Technology so that you remain competitive.

    “If you are not competitive after sometimes, your level of production will decline”.

    NAN reports that the forum was attended by many Nigerians from across the U.S., who advised the home government to carry them along in the scheme of things.

  • FG to deploy renewable energy to diversify economy

    FG to deploy renewable energy to diversify economy

    The Federal government is working towards deploying renewable energy technology to assist Nigeria in the diversification process of the nation’s economy.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu revealed this when he received members of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics in his office in Abuja Thursday.

    According to the Minister, priority would be given to the energy sector to explore the natural resources Nigeria is endowed with through research and innovative processes that will add value in building national development.

    He said that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is contributing immensely in research and developmental work in order to build up renewable energy in Nigeria in areas such as solar energy, wind energy, bio energy and small hydro power plants.

    Onu further stated that the Energy Commission is a focal agency under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology would help in generating renewable energy for the nation.

    The Ministry he said is playing an important role in this regard and assured that it will do everything humanly possible to ensure that energy is not only affordable but also accessible for rural communities in Nigeria.

    The Minister said that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is designing stoves and coal as well as pallets and compressing biomass with a view to improving the life of rural communities

    He further stated that, the Ministry, in conjunction with agencies such as National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) as well as the National Space Research and Development Council (NARDA) are utilizing the renewable energy to increase the energy contents and add value to the huge resources we have in the energy sector.

    Dr Onu asserted that in order to have the appropriate energy mix in Nigeria, which will be crucial to aid the diversification process of the federal government, the ministry is working assiduously to ensure the harnessing and utilizing of natural  resources efficiently to bring the country out of recession.

    He affirmed that ministry of Science and Technology is well positioned to take the lead in the diversification process of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

    He promised Nigerians that the Ministry will provide the necessary technological and scientific backups to protect  palm oil pipelines since Nigeria will soon be engaged in the production and exportation of palm products in the country in the near future.

    In his opening remarks, the President of the association, Professor Wumi Iledare informed the minister that the association has been working in collaboration with Energy Commission an agency under its purview, to determine technology for energy mix required in Nigeria.

    He further, intimated him of their upcoming 10th anniversary programme coming up in march 25th 2017, with a view to discussing the interplay of energy, economy, environment, affordability, adaptability, sustainability, and security of energy resources in Nigeria for national development.

     

  • How we turned the tide against Boko Haram- Army Chief

    How we turned the tide against Boko Haram- Army Chief

    • FG to establish Military Industrial Complex

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Turkur Buratai has revealed the strategy used by the Nigerian army that changed the tide against Boko Haram in the war against insurgency in the northeast.

    The Army Chief spoke in Abuja at the first Nigeria Army Research and Innovation Summit with the theme: Research and Innovation, Developing Synergy with Indigenous Institutions for Enhanced Capacity in the Nigerian Army.

    Buratai said on assumption of the command of the Nigerian Army, he set in motion a deliberate programme for the immediate repair and refitting of all the abandoned and unserviceable weapons and equipment in the Nigerian Army inventory using local resources.

    “ To this end, about 178 armoured fighting vehicles of various types were completely refurbished by Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at various Nigerian Army Workshops across the country.

    “ These were the weapons and equipment operated by well-trained, dedicated and motivated officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army that turned the tide of operations in the Northeast in our favour,” Buratai said.

    The Army Chief said summit is expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts to meet Nigerian Army’s operational needs areas of equipment, logistics and administration in line with his vision for the Nigerian Army.

    He said the Army has recognised the changes in the dynamics of modern warfare which requires constant innovation, research and advancement in technology and is prepared to develop local capacity for an enduring research and innovation process that will enhance its operations.

    “ Our experience in the Northeast and other theatres of operation has helped us draw useful lessons which have shaped the ongoing transformation process of the Nigerian Army aimed at developing and sustaining the right combat power for the professionally responsive force. We also learnt the hard lessons of over-reliance on foreign equipment and spares which was a huge setback in the initial stages of our operations,” he said.

    The Special Guest of Honour and Minister for Defence,  Mansur Dan-Ali in his speech said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari placed importance on research and innovation which is a key to unlocking the door to future technological and economic growth.

    The Minister said innovation is a major component of military technology as a critical aspect in national development. He said the Buhari administration has given priority to research development that will reposition the Armed Forces towards attaining excellence in research and innovation.

    The Defence Minister said the Federal Government would establish a Military Industrial Complex in Kaduna which is aimed at promoting research and innovation in the defence sector.

    “ My Ministry will also host a National Conference on Defence industrialisation in Nigeria to attract local and international stakeholders to brainstorm and come up with a roadmap that will guide the successful take-off, of our Military Industrial Complex which will be driven by research and technological innovations,” he said.

     He also revealed that the Ministry is working on a partnership between Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and some foreign original equipment manufacturers with a view to launching a pilot production line of some fast moving arms/ammunition for the Armed Forces.

    Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu who was a keynote speaker at the event said with the innovations in equipment manufacturing by the Nigerian Army, Nigeria will soon achieve self-sufficiency in weapons and ammunition.

    The Minister said Nigeria has no business begging to buy ammunition from developed countries while the same could be manufactured locally, he assured that the situation where Nigeria would not be able to buy ammunition will soon come to an end.