The Nation Newspaper

Tag: minister

  • Minister seeks solution to economic challenges

    The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has said that polytechnics can play a crucial role in improving the nation’s economy and are capable of moving Nigeria from being a consumer to a producer nation.

    According to him, polytechnics have the capacity to provide solution to the challenges of food shortage and its attendant crisis in Nigeria and the world at large.

    Adamu, who stated this during the 14th combined convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger State, emphasised that polytechnics need to be involved in the administration’s bid to diversify the economy from oil to agriculture and mining.

    “Today, the country needs graduates of polytechnics more than ever before, giving the emerging world food crisis. I am aware that the polytechnics have the capacity to provide solutions to the ongoing challenges of food shortage and its attendant crisis in Nigeria in particular and the world in general.

    “The role of science and technology in the development of any nation cannot be over-emphasised as no nation can afford to depend on borrowed or imported technology for its industrialisation. Polytechnics are therefore expected to play a crucial role in this regard.”

    Adamu, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), called on NBTE to ensure that standards are not compromised in polytechnic. She stressed the need to ensure strict adherence to the 70:30 carrying capacity policy in favour of technology courses.

    Also, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, reiterated that polytechnics in the country have the capacity to address the high level of unemployment in the country if they receive the desired attention from governments.

    According to him, polytechnics are widely known for impacting innovative, inventive and entrepreneurial skills on their students.

    “Once polytechnics remain focused and receive the desired attention, the disturbing high-level of unemployment being experienced in this country today would be drastically reduced considering the innovative and incentive skills being acquired by polytechnic graduates.”

    Governor Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Muhammad Ketso, said there is a need to get things right for the nation to get the best out of its educational system.

    He said more attention should be given to functional and entrepreneurial education in polytechnics adding that, “entrepreneurial education is the bedrock of socio-economic development and societal transformation.”

  • Health minister vows to curb medical tourism

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said his administration has initiated a new directive in the health sector to guard against medical tourism.

    He spoke at the Lagos State University (LASU) Alumni Association’s night of excellence at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja.

    Prof. Adewole said: “We want to change the rules. We want to stop people going out for things that can be done in this country.  If you are going to use your personal resources, we cannot stop you. But if you are going to use Nigerians’ money, then we need to determine how that money is spent and we do not want to look outside for things that can be done here.

    “Before we pay for it, we want to be sure it cannot be done in Nigeria. That is why we will sanction any doctor in the public hospital who refers a case that can be treated inside this country, out of the country.”

    The minister said his office would invest in research in  hypertension and other cases that involve dialysis, as well as partner public and private health sectors to achieve the agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “Our health agenda is to implement universal health coverage using primary health care as the base of the pyramid of our health system. We shall also support the tertiary health facility and encourage them to showcase their expertise in areas of medical sub-specialisations. We will revitalise 14 of them (tertiary institutions) in the next two years. We are going through a process of external review to deliver health to 100 million Nigerians,” he said.

  • Niger Delta group backs minister

    Niger Delta group backs minister

    A Niger Delta group has risen in defence of Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu over the lingering petrol scarcity and its attendant high cost across the country.

    The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement For Radical Change (NDIMRC) faulted the call for Kachikwu’s resignation, stressing that President Buhari was right in his selection of the Delta-born Kachikwu as minister.

    NDIMRC, in a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and spokesman Stanley Mukoro, said, “The Minister only said that the solution to the fuel crisis is a gradual process and as an oil monitoring group, we want to appeal to Nigerians to bear with Dr Kachikwu over the lingering scarcity.

    “The Minister has apologised to Nigerians over the worrisome situation and we want to implore Nigerians to be patient with the Minister who is capable of handling the fuel scarcity once and for all,” the group said.

    “The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources that we know is not happy with the situation and working round the clock with his team to end the noticeable fuel queues in most parts of the country in the weeks ahead. We know that efforts are in full gear to eliminate all factors which have so far impeded the free flow of petrol across the country and those calling on him to throw in the towels should be patient with him.”

    NDIMRC blamed the lingering scarcity on an alleged cabal that does not want the minister to succeed in the reorganisation of the NNPC.

    “He cannot be frustrated by the cartel in NNPC and dubious major fuel importers  as  the Almighty God is with him,” the statement added.

  • Southsouth APC, Ekiti party chief fault minister

    Southsouth APC, Ekiti party chief fault minister

    The South South chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday asked Minister of Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, to resign, if he is not capable of resolving the fuel scarcity.

    In a statement by the National Vice Chairman in charge of the zone, Prince Hilliard Eta, the party asked the Minister, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to resign.

    In the statement entitled “No split in APC: Tinubu right to criticise Kachukwu”, the party said it was high time the Minister climbed down from his high horse to face squarely the duties required of him by his office, as responsibility to the people is one of the cardinal points of the APC which he professes membership.

    The zonal Chairman said the south south chapter of the APC feels that Kachukwu has not entirely cast off the orientation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he was, pointing out that this is manifest in his actions and utterances such as the recent one that attracted opprobrium from many Nigerians.

    The statement which denied in any split in the party reads: “Following reports in the dailies that there is a major rift in our party, the APC due to the statement by one of our party leaders and statesman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I am compelled to set things straight from the stand point of the southsouth chapter of the party which the Minister is a member of.

    “It is important to reiterate here that winning the federal election in 2015 has not eroded the core ideology of progressivism which we espouse as it is the very foundation on which the party rests.

    “This progressive ideology strongly emphasises government as a tool for service to the people who are the custodians of power in the first instance. In line with this, it is not wrong or out of place for Tinubu to call the Minister of State for petroleum, owing to the anti-progressive statements.

    “Secondly, we in the APC believe that it is proper to immediately correct mistakes or errors committed by any member of the party, no matter how highly placed and we are developing a culture of accountability to Nigerians who government is meant to serve.

    Also yesterday a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Halims Agoda, called on  Dr. Kachikwu to resign from office if he is unable to bring the petroleum scarcity to an end.

    In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the former Delta State lawmaker said the minister’s recent remark where he claimed that he did not have the magic wand to end the scarcity is uncalled for.

    He accused the minister of trying to bring down President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, as he noted that Kachikwu never worked for.

    Addressing the minister directly in the statement, the ex-lawmaker said: “Your  statement  is  uncalled  for.  If you cannot  turn  around  the petroleum  sector  for  the benefit  of  Nigerians,  you better  resign.

    “We  worked  hard  for  this  government  to  come  in  solely  to  turn  around  the fortunes  of  Nigerians  for better.  Honestly,  your statement  is  unwarranted.

    “Good  initiative  and  creativity  is  not  the amount  of  your   ‘grammar’   or  showmanship  but  coming  on  top  out  of  serious difficulty.

    “Since  you came  in, nobody  is  impressed  with  your  so-called  approach  to  issues.

    “Please, do  not  bring  down the government  of  President Muhammadu Buhari, for the  president  will  not  make  such  careless  statement.

    “If  you are  running  out  of  positive  ideas,  you should  resign.” He added.

  • Photo: Ocholi, wife and son go home

    Photo: Ocholi, wife and son go home

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  • Nigeria’s joining Islamic coalition not religious, says minister

    Nigeria’s joining Islamic coalition not religious, says minister

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has said Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition against terror has nothing to do with religion.

    The minister, yesterday, blamed the media for not being “responsible” enough in the presentation of their reports.

    Rather than dwelling on the religious perspective, the minister said the media ought to be more interested in the objectives of the coalition.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Onyeama noted that terrorism is a global phenomenon and Nigeria would support any move to deal with it.

    He said the Islamic countries were uncomfortable with the perception that terrorism is Islamic and want to show that it is not the case.

    The minister noted that the coalition wants to show that terrorists do not speak for Islam and that nothing in Islamic teaching encourages terrorism.

    On the reservation expressed by some on Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition, he said: “What I say first of all is that you guys in the media have to be more responsible in the way you present news. First and foremost, get your facts right.

    “It has nothing to do with religion as far as Nigeria is concerned. We have to look at what the objective is. We face terror challenges and its a global phenomenon.

    “Unfortunately, the problem we have today is that some of the terrorists groups are claiming some of the things they are doing is in the name of a particular religion and it is clear to everybody that this is not the case, which is obviously a concern to people of Islamic faith and Islamic countries that their religion should be so abused.

    “So, there is naturally a tendency to show that this has nothing to do with Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Islamic countries, Islamic people want to be seen as being in the forefront of the battle against these terrorists to show also that it has absolutely nothing to do with religion.

    “That’s what this is all about. So, we are supporting every move to achieve this, to disabuse people’s minds that some of these terrorists are speaking in the name of Islam or are Islamic or that there’s anything about Islamic teaching that somehow condones these barbaric actions.

    “I think it’s something we should all get together and we should all support whoever is working towards it. And that’s what this coalition is for, to show too that we are a Muslim country, we are Muslims and these people do not speak for islam, have nothing to do with islam.

    “Most of the victims of these people are Muslims if you look at it. So, that’s what it is.

    “It has nothing to do with Nigeria, Christianity, Islam. I think the media should really get the main message across,” he added.

  • 100 days: Minister promises better governance

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its plan and determination to make life better for residents of the Territory through  programmes that will fast-track the development.

    Making the reassurance during a media parley to mark the 100 days of Muhammad Musa Bello in office as the 16th Minister of the FCT, the communication management team of the FCTA comprising the Director, Information and Communications FCTA, Mrs. Stella Ojeme, Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Abubakar Sani, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Sule, and Head Call Centre, Mrs. Jumai Ahmadu, said the administration has prioritised people-oriented programmes.

    According to the team, as part of efforts to encourage hygienic environment and the well-being of the residents, the Minister flagged off an intensive community and neighbourhood environmental sanitation scheme across the six area councils of the FCT.

    To maintain the cleanliness of the city however, the FCTA said it intends to reactivate its environmental mobile courts place to deal with offenders under the purview of the law.

    On the nasty traffic gridlock on the Nyanya-Mararaba axis, the administration said that the construction of the prolonged Karshi-Apo-Ara Road would soon start, as funds have been made available and approved for the projects, aimed at ease the traffic congestion.

    Meanwhile, the FCTA expressed deep concern over the huge work force in the area councils, especially those engaged in Local Education Authority (LEA), disclosing plans to conduct biometrics exercise, to ascertain the actual number of staff in the councils especially teachers, who are about 4,000 in numbers.

    Also, the administration insisted that the ban on okada and tricycle riders’ activities within the city centre still stands as violators will not only be arrested, but henceforth prosecuted accordingly in special mobile courts.

    Abuja Review recalled that Bello took over the mantle of leadership of the FCT as the 16th FCT on November, 11 2015, with a promise to build on his predecessors’ achievements.

    Concerned by the plight of workers at the Area Councils in the FCT, the FCT Administration has revealed it has concluded plans to provide financial bail out to the Councils to enable them pay staff salary arrears.

    Area Council staff are owed three months salary arrears and their cries have been heard by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello who has promised that his Administration would bail them out by paying two months, while the Councils should pay the remaining one month salary arrears.

     

  • Minister, wife, son die as SUV somersaults

    Minister, wife, son die as SUV somersaults

    Driver, Chief Detail, orderly, PA injured

    Buhari, APC, Atiku, others mourn

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment James Ocholi (SAN) died yesterday in an accident on the Kaduna-Abuja road. He was 55.

    The accident in which Ocholi’s wife, Blessing and son, Aaron also died, occurred at Rijana, Kilometre 57 on the highway.

    Ocholi and his wife were married for 27 years.

    Kaduna State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Francis Udoma said: “The minister and his son died on the spot; the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna State.

    “The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant ) were injured.”

    Kaduna Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the accident, which he said occurred because the Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) the family was travelling in lost a tyre while on speed.

    A source said the Minister was on his way back to Abuja after attending a thanksgiving church service in Kaduna.

    Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Kaduna Sector Command ACM Victor Nwokolo told The Nation on telephone that three persons were confirmed dead.

    He said the accident occurred when the tyre of the Lexus SUV they were traveling in got bust, causing the vehicle to somersault.

    He said bodies of the dead and those injured were taken to the National Hospital.

    He said: “There is an accident involving the minister’s convoy. Our men are on ground at the scene of the accident, but I am not the one to disclose what has happened now since he is a serving minister.

    “It happened at Doka village and I am not on ground there. We have a unit at Kateri and the ambulance is there. I am talking with them on telephone.”

    Residents of Kogi State, where the late minister hailed from, were yesterday thrown into shock.

    The eminent lawyer, who hailed from Ogbabede/Abocho in Dekina Local Government Area, was one of President Mohammadu Buhari’s nominees.

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was shocked by the minister’s death.

    Bello described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and  one of the most unwavering constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced.

    The governor recollected how the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria joined other progressive-minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars of the All Progressives Congress (APC), just as he described the late Ocholi as a complete gentleman who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria.

    He described his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, the APC and the legal profession, praying for the repose of the soul of the departed.

    The APC Kogi State chapter, described Ocholi’s death as a great loss.

    Treasurer Ismail Yahaya Adesayo described the death “very unfortunate”.

    He remembered the late Ocholi as a fine leader who meant well for state and Nigeria.

    He lamented that Ocholi died when his service was most needed in the state, praying to God to grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    He prayed to God not to take away the state’s leaders again, adding that the party is mourning.

    Ocholi was the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) governorship candidate during the December 2011 governorship election in Kogi State.

     

  • Minister, LASIMRA chief push for lower call tariff

    Minister, LASIMRA chief push for lower call tariff

    The Minister for Communications, Adebayo Shittu has identified the resolution of the issue of the Right of Way (RoW) as most critical among the three tiers of government and advocated the active involvement and participation of all the stakeholders to dialogue on the modalities for harmonising the tariff charges.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit by the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Mr. Babajide Odekunle and his team to the minister’s office in Abuja, he said there is need to push for drastic actions on the adoption of a particular tariff such that the common man can have access, get the best services and be able to afford the call rate because the telecom operators would indirectly shift the levies back to the consumers.

    He pledged the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with all the stakeholders in the industry and do whatever that could be done to ensure a new lease of life for the consumers. He urged the consumers to see the telecom operators as benefactors and that the costs of diesel to power the generators and other financial implication in maintaining the industry are possibly some of the considerations responsible for the call rate that could not be compared to what is obtainable in other climes.

    Speaking on the occasion, Odekunle congratulated Shittu and said the giant stride made in less than 100 days in office of the minister was highly commendable. He told the minister that the agency has the responsibility for the regulation and maintenance of telecom infrastructure in Lagos and its portfolio also covers the granting of RoWs for underground cable laying in the metropolis.

    He reaffirmed the support of Lagos State government to the National Broadband Plan of the government, adding that the benefits of the plan are critical to economic development in increasing internet penetration, boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) capacities and reducing unemployment rate.

  • Minister seeks expansion of Abuja-Keffi Road

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Administration has called on the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to consider expanding the Abuja-Keffi Road to 10 lanes in order to tackle the traffic bottlenecks often experienced on that axis.

    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello gave the advice at the partial opening ceremony of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) in the Central Business District, Abuja.

    Bello said that the expansion of Abuja-Keffi Road to 10 lanes with interchange bridges at critical junctions will guarantee hitch-free traffic flow in and out of Abuja city from the North-East axis of the country.

    He recalled that the FCT Administration has already expanded the Kubwa and Airport roads to serve those entering into the Federal Capital City from the northern and southern parts of the country respectively.

    He reiterated that the FCT Administration decided to partially open the ISEX also known as the Goodluck Jonathan Expressway to reduce the traffic gridlocks around the city centre particularly at peak periods.

    The Minister disclosed that 90 percent of the ISEX project has been completed; stressing that it was in a bid to alleviate the traffic congestion being experienced within the city Centre at least by providing an alternative route to ease movement in the East-West Axis in the southern flank of the city.

    Bello remarked that hitherto to commencement of the ISEX project, commuters from Abuja-Keffi axis usually experienced chaotic traffic congestion and suffered untold hardship when plying that route, with the resultant effect of extensive man-hour losses.

    He emphasised that the FCT Administration funded the substantial completion of the ISEX in line with policy of the present Administration to continue with all on-going projects that will impact positively on the lives of Abuja residents and Nigerians at large.

    Earlier in his address of welcome the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Adamu Ismaila who was represented at the occasion by the Director of Mass Housing, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin stated that the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) commences where the Abuja-Keffi road terminates by Mogadishu Barracks in Asokoro District.

    He said that the road traverses the City from Phases I to IV to connect the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) within the precincts of Kuje township.

    “The road is designed as a 2×2-lane service carriageway and 2×3-lane main carriageway, making a total of 10 lanes with four interchanges and four box culverts at various locations,” Ismaila added.

    The Executive Secretary said that the scope of the project includes underground and surface storm water drainage, power supply, a pedestrian bridge, street lighting and telecommunication ducts, among others.