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How we resolved UNILAG MSSN face-off – Bello

The out-going Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, says the crisis of the institution’s Muslim students’ society was resolved through dialogue.

He said that all members of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria ( MSSN ) drafted a new constitution that resolved the conflicts within the society.

At a forum in Lagos, Bello said management also ensured that the society’s first allegiance was with the institution.

“The university authority didn’t get into there and say MSSN short down. No.

“Every student’s organisation in the university reports to the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA) because you are registered.

“Whether you are a religious group or you are a disciplined group or whatever, you must be registered and report through the DSA, to the management.

“In the case of the MSSN, they had a challenge and the problems were from within them; so, they became factionalised.

“At a point, they had up to four factions and each of the factions was now writing to tell of the problems they had within and planning to disturb the peace of the community.

“So, we watched them over a period. It has to do with leadership problem.

“If you are familiar with the MSSN constitution, they also have relationships with external bodies.

“The allegiance to the external bodies was far more than the internal body.

“They are students; they are supposed to be there for at least four years, so the allegiance should be more to the university.

“So, what we have done is to re-orient those situations.’’

The Vice Chancellor expressed happiness that the MSSN now has a new leadership that would sustain peace on the campus.

Explaining the new structure put in place, Bello said “there are Muslims in every faculty and each faculty has its own Muslim groups associations.

“So, the choice of the leadership was by what they call in Islam, “The Shurah Committee”.

“So, what we have done is to use the Shurah committee, which is a combination of all the faculty representations, in bringing out a leader.

“So, they are all happy and the executive will be inaugurated as soon as they come back from holiday for the new academic session and then they move on.’’

NAN

November 10, 2017
FG moves to consolidate ease of doing business in mining sector

….as Ministry unveils integrated automated GIS Web Portal

The Federal Government, on Thursday took another bold step in consolidating ease of doing business in the mining sector with official unveiling of the Integrated Automated and Interactive GIS Web Portal of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The unveiling of the GIS Web Porter, which came barely a month after a World Risk Report on Global Mining sector rated Nigerian Mining jurisdiction as having a better investment risk profile, according to Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, underscores the government’s commitment to grow the sector.

Dr Fayemi who demonstrated some geological enquiries on the GIS web portal (portal.minesandsteel.gov.ng), during the inauguration, said the e-platform would aid the steady growth of the mining sector and contribute to the realisation of the administration’s goal of diversifying the economy’s revenue base, creating jobs, and broadening the range of economic opportunities available to Nigerians.

He said  with the launch of the portal, the country has now joined the league of jurisdictions in the global mining space that have deployed technology towards achieving transparency and ease of doing business in mineral sector governance.

The Minister said that the overall objective of the project was to increase provision of reliable information and knowledge to enhance promotion of investment in the sector using technology driven innovation. “This would in turn help increase the sector’s GDP contribution significantly”, he added.

“Part of the deliverables of this project, among others, include: Business Processes Re-engineering, building of a GIS Web Portal with a Business Automation System, Content Management System (CMS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Decision Support System, collaboration and upgrade of the ICT Infrastructure of the Ministry.”

Fayemi, noted, while new technology would further reduce the time spent on various processes in the sector as information can now be assessed from any parts of the world, just as transaction could be done from any location.

He listed some of the tasks to be performed by the Web portal to include online processing of mining licenses and mineral titles application; online payment of royalties and fees; as well as database for revenue drive; business intelligence analysis, reports and statistical data generation.

Others include GIS mapping representation of resources within the country; Side stream along the mineral corridor, Deployment of Electronic Document Management System (EDMs); Provision of GIS Laboratory; Provision of Data Centre at Ministry’s Headquarters; Provision of Disaster Recovery facilities within Nigeria; Training on GIS, ERP, EDMs and portal navigation.

Fayemi revealed that the portal was designed to serve as an input Decision Support System to no fewer than 15 MDAs, the Bank of Industry ( BOI ), the Federal Inland Revenue Services ( FIRS ), Miners Association of Nigeria.

The Minister said: “The strategy adopted for Go-Live is incremental in nature. Today we are unveiling the following: Content Management System for the Ministry and its Agencies: Market Place comprising of Minerals Commodity Price, certified list of COMEG members, List of mining operators with valid licenses & related minerals they trade on etc.

“Online Application of Licenses and Permit issued by Artisanal and Small Scale Department such as: Formalization of Artisanal Miners,  Registration of a Small-Scale Operator, Registration of Private Mineral Buying Centres, Renewal of Private Mineral Buying Centres.

“Administration Module with Internal Document Management System, Development of Workflow Approval Engine, Integration between Main Portal and GIS portal, Development of electronic payment platform, GIS Portal – Executive Dashboard and Application portal, Payment Integration with REMITA, Helpdesk Solution – Live chat, Development of Internal Users Reports and Dashboard”

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, with the launch of the portal today, Nigeria now joins the league of jurisdictions in the global mining space that have deployed technology towards achieving transparency and ease of doing business in mineral sector governance,” the Minister added.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari said  when himself and Dr Fayemi first report at the ministry, they met a sector that was moribund and seemed to lack both the wherewithal  and the will to carry on. He said the duo however resolved to make a mark in the sector.

Abubakar said: “We designed a roadmap that we hoped will take us out of the doldrums and lead us on the path to shared mining prosperity. Anyone who looks at our roadmap will notice that we have made plans that will in time make this nation a mining destination again. Some of these plans, like the legitimisation of artisanal miners, improved funding for the sector, ensuring greater cooperation between states and the federal government, and raising the contribution of mining to GDP, have achieved modest success.

“However, when you consider the huge potentials we have in the sector and compare that to what we presently contribute to the GDP, you will agree with me that the gap is just too much. Some of causes of this could have been avoided if in the past we had been more careful as a country”.

President of Women in Mining, Hon Janet Adeyemi said the deployment of the GIS web portal would be the game changer in the Nigerian mining sector.

“This is the first time the leadership of the Ministry would be matching words with action,” she said. She also added that the development would open up the system and that mining activities can now be tracked,” she added.

November 9, 2017
Senate to investigate death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean

The Senate is to investigate the death of 26 young Nigerian girls on the Mediterranean while travelling to Italy.

The measure followed a resolution on a motion “On death of 26 Young Nigerian Girls en route Italy”, sponsored by Sen. Rose Oko (PDP-Cross-River) during Thursday’s plenary.

The assembly also commended the Italian authorities for immediately stepping into the matter with the hope of resolving the murders.

It called on the Federal Government to set up an inter-agency committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to immediately work out a strategy to check such development.

The Senate also called on government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment and come out with more pro-active measures to engage the youth.

“On Nov. 6 it was reported by national and international media the gruesome story of the dead bodies of 26 young Nigerian girls of ages 14 to 18 discovered in a Spanish warship.

“The suspicion was that they were sexually abused and murdered,” Oko said.

She noted that there was mass exodus of young Nigerian boys and girls illegally attempting to migrate to Europe, especially to Italy and Spain.

“These journeys are through the perilous long and hazardous Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean sea.

“They run into the hands of bandits, are abused and raped and the dangerous sea waves often in rickety rubber boats.

“This has led to the death of several of them almost every week,” the senator said.

She said that as of May, it was reported that about 10,000 Nigerians had perished along the Sahara Desert-Libya- Mediterranean Sea route.

She noted that Italian prosecutors who had begun investigation into the death of the girls had arrested an Egyptian and a Libyan as suspects.

“This mass exodus of our children from the relative safety and security of home to the often cold hands of death have arisen and are increasing as a result of the economic hardships at home, including the unemployment situation in Nigeria.”

She said it was time to go beyond the mere feeling of horror to taking pro-active, urgent and emergency measures to address the root causes of the exodus, including massive enlightenment on the dangers therein.

Oko added that an inter-agency cooperation and collaboration was urgently needed by government to address this problem.

Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) described the incident as a national tragedy.

“It is unfortunate that year in year out thousands of Africans, including Nigerians, perish on their way to Europe in search of greener pastures,” Sani said.

He said that factors that led to the exodus included poverty, economic instability, unrealisable dreams and illusions as well as other components related to drug trafficking and terrorism.

“It is unfortunate that we continue to ignore this tragedy that is before us; 26 lives lost is one tragedy too many,” Sani said.

He called for actions that would stop young men and women moving into the hands of drug and human traffickers.

“It is high time that the relevant agencies of government did everything possible to stem the tide.”

Sen. Suleiman Adokwe (PDP-Nasarawa State) said: “since the Italian Government was investigating, it is expected of the Nigerian government to by now, make definite statements as to how they will expect the Italian government to investigate this thing thoroughly.

“We must be proactive,” Adokwe said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said government owed citizens of Nigeria the responsibility to provide the basic needs of life.

“We must not fail on this responsibility. It is important for us to think of how to provide social security for our people.

“We should ensure that every Nigerian has food to eat.

“There is no money on the streets outside the country.

“The young men and women should know that it is better for us to stay back in Nigeria and be able to build a better country.”

NAN

November 9, 2017
Court orders Police to pay Peace corps N12.5m over detention of its officials

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps of Nigeria as compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials.

The court also ordered the Police to unseal the headquarters of the corps in Abuja, which was sealed since Feb. 28, when Police invaded the premises during the official inauguration of the building.

Justice Gabriel Kolawale gave the order on Thursday when he delivered judgment in a fundamental human rights suit instituted by the corps against the Police and five others.

The judge held that the Police and the other security agents involved in the seal of the Peace Corps premises acted outside their statutory powers.

Kolawale said that the Police and other security agents had statutory powers to make arrest and detain people, but that such powers must be exercised within the ambits of the law.

He held that the Police failed to establish that the Peace Corps officials committed a crime before they arrested and detained them.

The judge further said that the allegations by the Police and other respondents that the Peace Corps was engaging in military and paramilitary training was not sufficiently established before him to justify their unlawful action.

According to the judge, the allegation of extortion of money and the alleged threat to national security made against the Peace Corps officials was not backed with any document from the victims.

He also faulted the claim by the Police that it invaded the Peace Corps house based on intelligence report.

He described the claim as amorphous as there was no evidence before the court to justify it.

The judge held that the Peace Corps, as a lawfully registered organisation, was entitled to own movable and immovable property and that under no circumstance should any security agent deny the corps this right.

He therefore ordered the Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps officials in order to appease them for the harassment and intimidation they suffered when they were unlawfully arrested and detained.

He also ordered that the headquarters of the corps, sealed in the last nine months be unsealed.

The judge further ordered that no attempt should be made by any of the respondents to frustrate officials of the Peace Corps from accessing the building to carry out their duties.

The corps in March, instituted the suit against the Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser.

Other respondents in the suit were the Department of State Security Services and its Director-General and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The corps was asking the court for an order directing the respondents to pay N2 billion as compensation for its officials who were injured during the invasion of its premises.

The compensation was also a remedy to the violation of their fundamental rights which the corps said was violated by their arrest and detention without a valid court order.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Ambode inaugurates committee on oil producing area relations

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday inaugurated a 45-member committee on Oil Producing Areas Community Relations in Badagry area of the state.

Ambode said the inauguration of the committee was aimed at preventing face-off between investors and host communities of oil producing areas often experienced in the country.

The inauguration comes after the state has officially joined the League of oil producing states in the country.

This followed the discovery of crude oil by an indigenous oil firm, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited.

Exploration and developmental activities in this field commenced since June 1991 and it officially became operational in 2016.

Ambode said: “Lagos, being the home of Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and now an oil producing state, cannot afford to have any community unrests or disruption of the peace.

“It is imperative that our oil producing companies and their host communities enjoy a very warm and mutually beneficial relationship.”

He said that oil was the major source of revenue in Nigeria today and despite the huge benefits from its discovery, its exploration had brought some negative effects in the oil producing communities, subsequently affecting the whole nation.

“The exploration activities have been found to create serious environmental challenges affecting health, social and economic activities, sustainable development and ecological balance due to land degradation and air pollution among others.

“These activities among others have led to agitations from communities and youth groups, leading to disruption of exploration activities, pipeline vandalisation and in extreme cases kidnapping and violence,” he said.

Ambode noted that this had made it difficult to conduct the business of oil production smoothly and ensure that the relationship between the oil companies and their host communities remained cordial at all times.

This, he said, had also affected negotiations for compensation for land acquisition, damages and spills.
Ambode said that the committee was expected to interface between the host communities and the oil companies in Badagry.

“They are to coordinate a seamless implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) interventions planned for the Badagry oil producing areas by oil producing companies,” he said.

According to him, they will also coordinate community and development issues between the host communities, government and oil producing companies operating in Badagry.

Ambode said the government was committed to creating a conducive environment for all to thrive, especially in the budding oil industry.

“On our part, we will take proactive measures to prevent oil spillage, and where it happens, quickly move to clean it up according to globally accepted standards.

“We will also ensure the safety and security of our communities and operators at all times,” he said.

Ambode charged the committee to bring to bear their wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure cooperation and collaboration between the communities and the oil companies operating in Badagry.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Measles: Kaduna begins immunisation of 1.5m children

Kaduna State Government on Thursday began a state-wide measles vaccination campaign targeting about 1.5 million children.

The campaign would run in two phases, with the first phase covering 13 local government areas to run from Nov. 9-14, and 10 local governments under the second phase from Nov.17-22.

Jonathan Makama, spokesman of the state Ministry of Health and Human Services, said the turnout so far, was impressive in areas where the vaccination started.

He listed local government areas conducting the exercise as Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Ikara, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kudan, Kubau, Makarfi Sabon Gari, Soba and Zaria.

Makama advised parents to present children aged nine months to five years for the immunisation taking place in health centres, primary schools, palaces and homes of traditional rulers, Mosques and Churches nearest to them.

“The second phase will hold from 17th to 22nd November 2017, and will include the following LGAs: Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Sanga and Zango Kataf.

“Caregivers are expected to take their children to the nearest vaccination post for immunization,’’ he said.

Read Also: Kaduna IPMAN to hold election on Saturday

November 9, 2017
Women drivers use seat belt more than men in Adamawa – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ), Adamawa Sector Command, on Thursday, said women drivers used seat belts more than men drivers in the state.

The Sector Commander, Adegoke Adetunji, said this during Ember Months Campaign Awareness in Yola.

According to him, women drivers have low involvement record in accidents compared with men in the state.

Adetunji said available records showed that “in every 10 female drivers, seven to eight used seat belts, while in every 10 males, only three to four drivers used seat belt.”

He added that investigations conducted by the FRSC command revealed that women drivers abide by road traffic rules and regulations more than men.

He noted that “our investigation also shows that of the few women drivers arrested over violation of road traffic, majority of them committed the offence mistakenly.

“Majority of women drivers show remorse after arrest, unlike male drivers who may be indifferent or give excuses.”

On the ember months campaign awareness, he said the cardinal objective was to educate the public on the need to be road safety conscious.

He added that “as the month of December and New Year approach, it is clear that the period record increase of travellings and festivities.

“Safety on our highways is our collective responsibility, hence the need to abide by traffic rules and regulations for our safety,” Adetunji said.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Falana, George, laud presidential panel on armed forces

Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Prof. Akinseye George (SAN) on Thursday applauded the Presidential Investigation Panel on Armed Forces in Nigeria.

The panel was set up to review compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria made their commendations on the sideline of the panel’s winding up of its hearing in Abuja.

Mr Fanala (SAN) is the counsel to detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria ( IMN ), El-Zakzaky, while Prof. George (SAN) is the counsel to the Nigerian Army.

Falana, however, said that with the way the panel had conducted its proceedings he was confident that the outcome would be pleasing to all parties.

According to him, I know the panel is made up of people of proven integrity and I know that based on the evidence before them, they will write reports and make appropriate recommendations in the interest of our country.

George also said that the panel had done a great job, adding that the establishment of the panel by the Federal Government was laudable.

“We pray and hope that the report of this panel will not go down the drain, the whole world is waiting for the outcome of this panel.

“Everybody has been saying investigate and now the Federal Government has taken the bull by the horn, government has done the right thing by setting up this investigation.

“It is hoped that the reports of the panel will not end on a shelve, and that the report will be implemented by the government so as to show the good work that the military is doing and area of improvement.

Meanwhile, Prof George said that the panel had helped to show that the Nigeria military personnel were well trained, adding that they had done a great job to preserve and defence the country from being overrun by terrorists.

According to him, the efforts of the Nigeria army in various operations are like surgical operations; when a patient goes for surgical operation, certainly there must be pain.

He added that the purpose was not to kill the patient but to preserve the life of the patient, adding that this is the sense in which we must understand the operation of the Nigeria military in situations of conflict.

“The military has done a great service for the country by preventing and minimising the impact of such negative tendencies.

According to him, there are no systematic violations of human right or pattern of violation of human rights by the military; it has not been established to the best of my knowledge.

NAN

November 9, 2017
UNILAG to admit only 8,000 – outgoing VC

No fewer than 24,000 applicants to the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) who scored 200 marks and above will still be unable to secure admission in the institution in the 2017/2018 academic session.

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, gave the indication at a forum with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that although 32,000 applicants to the university scored 200 marks and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary matriculation examination ( UTME ), Unilag would not admit beyond 8,000.

Bello said that the university insisted that an applicant must also score at least 40 per cent in Unilag’s post-UTME before consideration for admission.

“We know what goes on in our public examinations. That is why we insist on candidates undertaking our post UTME and scoring at least 40 per cent,’’ he said.

According to Bello, who steps down as Unilag’s Vice-Chancellor on Nov. 11, the aim is to promote excellence.

“We admit the best so that we can produce the best,’’ he said.

He said that the university held 75 inaugural lectures during his five-year tenure in an effort to promote scholarship.

The professor of chemical engineering noted that the university had held a total of 374 inaugural lectures since its existence.

Bello said that the university produced 103 professors in the past five years, representing about 20 per cent of the 292 professors it had produced in its 55 years of existence.

“They just don’t come and get them; the process of becoming a professor in Unilag is very tedious.

“We have peer review from inside and outside and we have interview internally, so that at the end, you know why you are promoted or why you are not,’’ he said.

Bello said that Unilag had to change its curriculum in a bid to sustain academic excellence.

“We are neither a technology university nor a business university; we are comprehensive, except for agriculture.

“The only agriculture we do is marine.’’

He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the university in its new fields of study such as cell biology and genetics.

“When we started them, they were almost nothing.

“Cell biology and genetics, for instance, are the ones that drive the health sector when you talk about working in the sub-cell region, especially in the area of In-Vitro-Fertilisation ( IVF ).

He also expressed delight at the performance of the university’s creative arts department.

“When we started it, some saw it as laughable. Today, most of our graduates are the ones making money in Nollywood,’’ Bello said.

Bello, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university, came into office in 2012, following the death of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

Bello will be succeeded by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

NAN

November 9, 2017
Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a business support grant of N12 million to 30 participants of its youth entrepreneurship scheme.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, SPDC, said that the company had so far empowered 6, 580 youths from the Niger Delta under the ‘LIVEWIRE’ entrepreneurship programme for youths between age 18 and 35.

Weli, who was represented by Mr Kiri Obomanu, Head of GMoU Maturation Unit of SPDC, said that the beneficiaries had undergone training in essential business and entrepreneurship management.

He said that 150 young entrepreneurs participated in the 2017 edition of the Shell LiveWIRE programme in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the scheme enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment, rather than seeking for elusive employment opportunities.

“It provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential business knowledge and customised support they need to transform their enterprising ideas into a viable and sustainable business.

“LiveWIRE programme is targeted at young people between ages 18-35 to inspire, encourage and support them to start their own businesses or expand existing ones.

“We do this by providing them requisite training and start up finance.

“It is hoped that with legitimate alternative means of livelihood, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices,” he said.

Mr Collins Cocodia, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Youths Development, urged SPDC to strengthen its collaboration with the state government on youth empowerment.

Cocodia applauded the oil firm for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking their peers off the employment market.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Bertha Erekosima, whose specialty is on bags and shoe production, commended SPDC for the scheme and pledged to uphold the objectives of the programme and expand their businesses.

Mr Sapele Lawrence, who specialised in fish farming, said that he would deploy the grant to expand his existing farm.

“This grant is a welcome development, I have only one pond and have been yearning to expand my ponds, my dream is to have six ponds and this grant will go a long way and I will have to hire more hands.

“I am also looking at producing fingerlings because here in Bayelsa, we don’t have anyone involved in breeding and fish farmers travel to Delta to get fingerings, so I will further deploy the grant into these areas,” Lawrence said.

NAN

November 9, 2017