The Nation Newspaper

Tag: facilities

  • Coca-Cola, Ogun upgrade facilities

    Coca-Cola Nigeria in partnership with the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is set to embark on construction and rehabilitation at the First Baptist Primary School, Ijaye-Oja Ale, Ilogbo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The project is part of the Coca-Cola Foundation/UNDP New World Programme in collaboration with Ogun State Government aimed at providing critical infrastructural development in the school, which was established in 1910 as a missionary school adopted by the First Baptist Church before becoming a publicly owned primary school in the 1970s.

    Speaking at the foundation-laying of the project held at the school premises in Abeokuta penultimate Friday, the Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Bhupendra Suri, who was represented by the Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit, Mr. Osita Abana, disclosed that the project funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and implemented by the Youth Empowerment Foundation would be completed within six months.

    Abana explained that the scope of the project would cover the construction of a block of five classrooms, six units of functional gender segregated toilet with water and sanitation facilities, construction of a functional playground, rehabilitation of two units of toilets, and rehabilitation of two units of classrooms.

    He also noted that the projects when completed, would provide improved water supply not only to the school, but also to the entire Ijaye Oja-Ale Ilogbo Community.

    “Beyond this infrastructural development, Coca-Cola Foundation will also facilitate a capacity building training for the teachers of the school to deploy literacy enhancement programmes targeted at the upper primary section of the school,” he said.

    Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology for Ogun State, Mrs Modupe Mujota, said  the project would go a long way in improving the quality of education offered to the pupils of the school while also impacting the community positively.

    Mujota praised Coca-Cola Foundation for supporting the state government in providing a conducive learning environment in schools through the school rehabilitation project.

    She urged the teachers, pupils, parents and the old students to take ownership and make good use of the facilities upon completion and ensure adequate security to prevent vandalism and theft.

    “Without mincing words, this project is an unprecedented endeavour and a representation of the sincerity of the state government as regards education. This foundation-laying marks the culmination of an intricate process of planning, organisation and the beginning of another demanding journey-the process of executing and instituting our plans,” she noted.

    The state Universal Basic Education Board Chairman, Alhaji Olatunji Okewole, described the partnership between the board and Coca-Cola Nigeria as a welcome development in terms of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in bridging infrastructure gap in schools.

    He thanked Coca-Cola Nigeria for the gesture and urged other corporate bodies to emulate the company. He applauded the School Base Management Committee (SBMC) of the school under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Juwon Labode, the teachers and staff members of the school for their unrelenting and unflinching effort towards the actualisation of the project.

     

  • ‘Patronise govt health care facilities’

    ‘Patronise govt health care facilities’

    Wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has called on expectant mothers to patronise primary health centres and skilled birth attendants to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.

    She gave the charge at a town hall meeting on reduction of maternal and child mortality in Epe Local Government organised by the state’s Ministry of Health.

    Mrs. Ambode observed that the refusal by expectant mothers to access obstetric services was a major contributor to the maternal mortality rate in the state.

    She said: ‘’Almost every minute, somewhere in a corner of the world, a woman dies as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman that dies, about twenty others survive but suffer from serious diseases, disability or physical damage, caused by these complications. The majority of these maternal deaths are avoidable if expectant mothers access quality reproductive health care, including skilled attendance at birth.

    ‘’Non-use of essential obstetric services is a crucial factor that contributes to high maternal mortality. Some women refuse to access care when highly necessary either because of cultural practices or because decision-making is the responsibility of other family members.’’

    She said while the role of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) is acknowledged, it is important they know their limitations and ensure prompt referrals to the Primary Health Care Centres.

    She appealed to all women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, as well as children under five, to avail themselves of the free services during the Child Health Week by visiting the nearest Primary Health facility closets to them.

    The governor’s wife, who urged women to pay attention to their nutrition during pregnancy, enlisted the support of families, religious and community groups to win the battle against the menace.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said it was important for TBAs to be registered with the state government, adding that reports indicated expectant mothers still visited TBAs, who knew not what to do when complications arose.

    The commissioner said the state government had done so much in  primary health-care, as the governor was very passionate about the health of the citizenry.

    He enjoined everyone to come together at the end of the meeting and resolve to do the right thing, beneficial to pregnant mothers and babies after child-birth, stressing that everyone has a role to play in the matter.

    In their goodwill messages, member of the House of Representatives, representing Epe Federal Cconstituency, Tasir Raji and Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Segun Olulade, noted that there was a strong link between the health and survival of a mother and that of her new-born.

    Hon Raji said it was imperative for the state government to explore the possibility of registering the TBAs to integrate them into the healthcare delivery system, as this, according to him, would help build capacity to ease burden in the health sector.

    Hon. Olulade said Lagosians must  ensure that no woman in the state loses her life during pregnancy or childbirth.

  • Shell flays illegal occupation of Belema oil facilities

    The illegal occupation of Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant in Rivers State has safety implications both for the people at the facilities and nearby communities, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has warned.

    Since August 11, some persons have camped out day and night at the two facilities.

    In a statement yesterday, SPDC said it was “deeply concerned that unauthorised persons, including women and children, have been observed in close proximity to equipment that process crude oil and gas without the protection of safety clothing that is mandatory for people working in or accessing such restricted areas”.

    SPDC had carried out an emergency shutdown of production ahead of the illegal occupation, but has been unable to access the facilities since then to ensure a safe shutdown over a prolonged period.

    “The continued illegal occupation for many days exposes people at the plant to higher safety risks as anything could trigger a spill or fire with potentially serious consequences,” the company warned.

    SPDC said it was committed to Niger Delta’s growth, especially host communities of Belema and Kula.

    The SPDC JV partners have contributed $29 billion to the economic growth of Nigeria between 2012–2016. The SPDC JV is also supporting various GMoU Cluster Development Boards in the Niger Delta and mentoring NGOs to deploy N7 billion for development projects of host communities’ choice under the GMoU programme.

  • Ugwuanyi plans credit facilities for traders

    Ugwuanyi plans credit facilities for traders

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has said his administration is discussing with financial institutions, international corporations and other relevant organisations on how to extend easier and more convenient lines of credit and other facilities to assist the state’s traders grow their businesses.

    Ugwuanyi said his administration was also making efforts to upgrade the capacity of the State Marketing Company to arrange special import services for traders in line its policy trust.

    The governor spoke at a meeting with leaders of the 37 organised markets in the state at the Government House in Enugu.

    He noted that the meeting was convened at his behest “to show appreciation and express our gratitude for all the support and solidarity that you, along with teeming members of your associations, have continued to accord this administration since its inception”.

    Ugwuanyi said his administration was indebted to the traders for the resounding success of the Enugu Traders Empowerment Scheme, which was launched early this year, adding that the scheme was enjoying nationwide acclaim because of their support.

    The governor said his administration would take necessary actions that would improve the traders’ businesses.

    He said: “We will never allow anyone to subject traders in Enugu State to undue harassment, oppression or exploitation as they go about their legitimate businesses.”

     

  • Minister inspects facilities at IDPs’ camps in Borno

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has visited some health facilities at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State.

    The visit was aimed at ensuring that the health facilities at the camps were functional and that the ad-hoc workers providing the healthcare services are also exhibiting their best professionally.

    The minister, who interacted with the displaced persons at the camps, assured them that Federal Government would continue to provide healthcare services for them at the camps.

    Adewole, accompanied by the WHO Country Director, Alemu Wondi, the Commissioner for Health, Borno State, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, the National Co-ordinator, Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Programme, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh  and other top government functionaries, visited Teachers Village  IDP Camp in Maiduguri where a large number of the displaced persons  were receiving care.

    The minister had a discussion with some of the ad-hoc staff providing psycho-social health service at the IDP camp where he expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment shown by the ad-hoc staff in conducting their assignment.

    The minister had earlier visited the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital where patients with serious psycho-social problems were referred.  He urged the workers of the Psychiatric Hospital to be vigilant and watchful so that they could detect new challenges on different patients, especially children.

    Fielding questions from journalists after the visit, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Health remained committed to providing necessary healthcare services in the state.

    Adewole said: “Health and Nutrition Emergency Response actually started in February. I am highly impressed with what we are doing. We have come to review what we have done, access the progress and the impact and tinker with the plan so that we can become perfect.”

    Speaking on whether the programme would end within the six months initially designed,the minister said: “We know that the programme cannot end in six months, the drugs that we brought to Borno would last them for the next two years, we are quite confident that extending it would not be as costly as the initial flag-off. We don’t have to buy new ambulances, we are not buying new delivery trucks, we are not buying new drugs, what we need to do is just to keep the personnel and some money for logistics.”

    The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Alemu Wondi said he joined the Minister for the inspection to get first-hand information on what the 25 teams from the Federal Ministry of Health were doing in Borno State.

    Wondi said WHO also have other teams reaching out to communities that are far from health facilities in Borno State.

    Mshelia appreciated the commitment of Federal Ministry of Health for the Health and Nutrition Programme, adding that partners, such as UNICEF, WHO, IMO, are also in the state providing support on nutrition.

  • Itsekiri youths to shut down Chevron facilities, if…

    The National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) has urged its compatriots who are VTP5 and VTP6 trainees of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to prepare to shut down the company’s operations at Escravos and other fields, if the company fails to give them permanent jobs before their contract runs out next month.

    In a statement at the weekend by its President/CEO, Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin, NAIG said: “It is an insult on the Itsekiri nation to keep our graduates as trainees for four years without employment.”

    The group urged the trainees to ensure that “Itsekiri graduates under VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6/OTP3 are staffed without further delay”.

    It said the OPITO certificates of the affected trainees were in custody of Chevron to purportedly keep them tied to the company.

    NAIG noted that such treatment was “not being done in Richmond, Angola or those trainees in ‘national’ the programme”.

    The group said the excuse of cutting cost, as adduced by Chevron for non-regularisation of the trainees, “is not only a fallacy but a dent on the integrity of CNL”.

    It said the company “recorded a profit of $1.2 billion in the just concluded fiscal year” and “the EGTL train 1 and 2 are fully operational. Pure diesel, naphtha and LPG are constantly being exported daily”.

    NAIG said the Itsekiri host over 75 per cent of Chevron’s onshore/offshore/swamp fields under the Olu of Warri.

    The students’ body decried the attitude of House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Majority Leader Femi Gbajabamilia for their position on the Presidency’s directive for IOCs to relocate their corporate headquarters to the Niger Delta.

    It noted that the actions of the lawmakers “only buttress our long-held belief that the treatment meted out to the Itsekiri by Chevron is because some people in the corridors of power, especially of the Yoruba stock, are aiding Chevron to marginalise us without recourse to the fact that we host Chevron Tank Farm at Ugborodo”.

  • Firm woos subscribers with security, facilities

    The Managing Director, Buildcon Global Services Limited, Mrs. Bukunola Gadzama, has assured investors in its estate scheme – Pracht Gardens – of unparalleled luxury, comfort and security. The estate, in Ikota area of Lekki, Lagos, is touted to offer a dream environment for “aspirational” lifestyle.

    Planned for delivery in April, Mrs. Gadzama said the estate was designed to meet subscribers’ taste for luxury.

    “The estate has up-to-date security facilities that are measurable with what is obtainable in other parts of the globe. It is designed with affordability in mind and zero compromise on quality and finesse to meet the needs of subscribers,” she said.

    To strengthen the security of residents, Mrs. Gadzama said a video surveillance technology has been installed to transmit signals from one monitor to another within the estate. There is also electrical fence wire that is powered by 24 hours electrical transformer, and patrol officers that engage in routine check to curtail misconducts, protection of subscribers as well as maintaining peace within the estate.

    “In this period of insecurity, we have thought it wise to install up- -to-date technology that can track any movement made within the environment and to ensure that subscribers get the right value for money,” Gadzama stated.

    Other features in the estate include a water treatment plant; fully paved road; suitable shopping centre; ample parking space; power supply and distribution; street lights; recreational centre for children;  crèche;  as well as electrical fence wire.

    Pracht Gardens Estate consists of 40 units of four and five bedrooms fully detached duplexes as well as four bedrooms terraces, and sits on 21,000 metres square parcel of land.

    A subscriber to the estate scheme, Mrs. Juliet Onioma, expressed her delight at the layout and features in the estate. She said the estate is a place that has all it takes to keep a family, as there are facilities that addresses the needs of children, like a park and school that eases the burden of moving out of the environment.

    Another subscriber, Mr. Joe Aforieh, said he is fascinated with the structural design of the estate and the layout. “What interests me most is that l have the opportunity to come up with any additional plan to complement what is already being provided,” Aforieh stated.

  • Farmers enjoin Rivers to provide facilities

    The Port Harcourt Glorious Harvesters Cooperative Society has enjoined the Rivers State government to provide facilities to farmers to boost rice production.

    The President, Mr. Amos Ogbu, yesterday told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt the government should fix the millers and provide harvesters, plough, and other facilities to assist rice farmers to produce more.

    He said the rice milling machines installed by the ex-Governor Peter Odili administration had become non-functional due to their non-usage for a long time.

    Ogbu told NAN the present situation compelled the group to transport the tonnes of rice it produced during the 2016 farming season to Ebonyi State, for milling.

    He said the cooperative spent over N500,000 transporting the rice to Ebonyi State and this reduced their profit.

    “We paid N30,000 for the milling of a tonne of rice and spent N5,000 to parboil 50 kilogrammes of it. When you add all these to the cost of transport, the expenses become very high,” Ogbu said.

    He said the cooperative planned to sell a 50 kg of rice for N20,000, but later realised the amount would not cover the cost of production.

    Ogbu said the incurred expenses would have been avoided if the mills in the state were in good condition.

    He, however, said the group was not discouraged by the challenges it faced, adding that it had bought rice seeds for the 2017 planting season.

  • ‘Lagos expanding facilities to meet water demand’

    The Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Muminu Adekunle Badmus, has said the government is expanding water facilities to meet the demand of 540 Million Gallons per Day (MGD).

    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke at the weekend at the corporation’s headquarters in Ijora, Lagos, said the expansion led to the inauguration of the Otta-Ikosi Regional Waterworks that produced 4MGD in May last year, with 80.32km pipes between Agbowa and Itokin.

    He went on: “These include Ado, Agbowa, Ago-Hausa, Ago-Owu, Ajebon Orugbo, Iganke, Ikosi, Odo Ayandelu and Otta Ikosi. In the same month, the corporation inaugurated Mosan-Okunola Mini Waterworks, which produces 2MGD with 5.0km-pipe network/reticulation in Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA). This is serving Abesan Estate, Baruwa and neighbouring communities.

    “The government recently approved the commencement of the development of Odomola Water Scheme II that will produce 100MGD water plant and the reticulation of the primary, secondary and tertiary distribution within the Odomola service areas, such as Lekki Phase 1, Dolphin, Victoria Island-Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island Annex, Ikoyi-Alexander Road, Ikoyi-Club Road, Badore, Epe 1 and Epe II. This project will be executed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis.”

    Badmus said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration was executing the construction of Adiyan Water Treatment Plant Phase II with 70MGD capacity, which would serve about 3,000,000 people by providing potable water, adding that it would be completed soon.

    “When completed, it will serve Ikotun, Idimu, Isolo, Agege 1 & II, Ajegunle, Lagos West, Amuwo Odofin, etc.”

    He said there was a plan on the upgrade/expansion of Ishasi Waterworks to 35MGD to serve Ajangbadi, Iba, Ijegun-Egba, Otta-Awori, Ketu and adjoining communities.

    According to him, reticulation was ongoing from Isiwu (Otta Ikosi area) to Ikorodu to boost water production.

    “This will also serve Ikorodu and neighbouring communities.”

  • Sokoto surveys school facilities

    Sokoto State has carried out a survey of resources in its secondary schools to assess their needs.

    It was carried out in 40 schools by the Technical Committee on the Implementation of State of Emergency in education in the state.

    Its Chairman, Prof Riskuwa Arabu Shehu, said the survey used globally-accepted indices, including the availability of classrooms, teachers and their qualifications, teaching aids, Information Communications and Technology, clinics, teacher-to- pupil ratio, as well as the level of dilapidation of structures, among others.

    He said findings of the survey would be compiled in a report to be submitted to Governor Aminu Tambuwal soon.

    Shehu, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said the exercise yielded useful data that would help the state in planning to revive its education sector.

    “We have to get our priorities right and channel resources to the prioritised areas, to avoid mistakes.   The survey was a Needs Assessment conducted to have a comprehensive knowledge of all the critical indices needed to provide quality education.

    “If you don’t plan well, you will not have value for your money, especially with the current recession,” he added.