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  • Builders, Australian govt seal building methodology deal

    The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and its counterpart, the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Sydney, Australia to improve the methodology and technology of building construction.

    The MoU which is aimed at making NIOB and AIB have a shared commitment to become a stronger professional institute and educator within the building construction industry was signed during a construction event tagged: Constructing Our World.

    The event was jointly organised in Sydney by the New-Zealand Institute of Building, Australian Institute of Building and Singapore Institute of Building.

    According to the National President of AIB, Mr. David Burnell, AIB and NIOB will work together to raise the level of professionalism in the building construction industry and education in Australia and Nigeria.

    Read Also: ‘Many Lagos buildings are distressed’

    National President of NIOB, Mr. Kunle Awobodu said the collaboration among members of the two institutes would promote research in the field of construction and also encourage greater participation of members in jointly organised construction events for valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

    The two parties have also agreed to exchange information relevant to the development of the building construction management profession in Australia and Nigeria in order to facilitate an understanding of each other’s work.

    In his goodwill message to the NIOB, the High Commissioner of Nigeria in Australia, Ambassador Bello Kazaure Husseini hoped that the bilateral relationship would advance construction innovations in Nigeria.

    Recounting his experience after a tour of building construction sites in Australia, the Vice Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Dr. Samson Opaluwah commended the compliance with standards which the group would not relent at promoting in Nigeria.

    The former General Secretary of NIOB, Mr. Fadil Elegbede expressed satisfaction on the new value the Sydney event has contributed to the construction knowledge of NIOB members, taking into consideration cultural differences.

    As NIOB takes a giant step into global activities, expanding the scope of its construction knowledge and skills to overseas, establishing opportunities for academic and training exchange programmes, the President of the institute, Mr. kunle Awobodu  hinted that there were ongoing discussions on collaboration with the New-Zealand Institute of Building and Singapore Institute of Building to create a multilateralism for greater collective drive to technologically shaped construction products.

  • Nigeria needs $3tr for infrastructure

    Nigeria requires a whopping $3 trillion to bridge its infrastructure gap over a 30-year period, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said on Monday.

    Speaking at one-day workshop on Maximising Finance for Development (MFD) of Infrastructure in Nigeria organised by the World Bank Group in Abuja,  she said the cash amounts to roughly $100 billion per year.

    “With a total federal budget of less than $30 billion for 2019 and the dependency of Nigeria’s income on oil revenue with unpredictable global price fluctuation, Nigeria no doubt, lacks the fiscal space to self-finance the required infrastructure investment,” she said.

    The minister said the investment required to bridge this huge infrastructure gap has been planned to be financed through both public and private sector participation.

    Read Also: Buhari woos German investors on infrastructure

    Mrs Ahmed said: “The private sector is expected to cater for about 48per cent of the investments which will account for assets that are fully owned and financed by the private sector itself. The remaining 52per cent of the required investment is expected to be financed from a combination of public and private sector for the first phase of the implementation.”

    The private sector is also expected to play a key role in providing critical infrastructure, either directly through privatisation or in collaboration with the government under public private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

    “There are four primary financing options: governments budgets; public debt; other public sources (e.g. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Public Pension Fund); and PPPs, available for financing the investments,” she said.

    In addition to already committed private sector investments, she said government is strategically considering how much, on project-by-project basis, to leverage from the primary financing options to ensure optimal risk allocation.

    Mrs Ahmed commended the effort of the World Bank Group for the timely intervention on infrastructure developmen. “The Federal Government has created an Infrastructure Project Development Facility to finance early project development activities so as to create a pipeline of bankable PPP projects, establish a dedicated cash backed fund (Government Resource Fund) outside the annual budgetary allocation process to finance the government’s contributions on infrastructure involving the private sector,” the minister explained.

    Giving an overview of Nigeria’s infrastructure gap, Mrs Ahmed said the country’s core infrastructure stock is currently estimated at 30per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) which falls far short of the international benchmark of 70per cent.

    She said the effect of weak infrastructure is most striking in the energy and transportation sector. The two sectors, according to her, are key to national and economic development due to their multiplier effect across all sectors of the economy.

    The minister said increased private sector participation, through both PPPs and full privatisation, is required to decrease the burden of the required infrastructure investments by the public sector.

  • Sanusi begs Nigerians over floppy CHAN Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General- Secretary Dr. Sanusi Mohammed has pleaded with  Nigerians not write off the home-based senior national team known as Chan Eagles after they were thrashed 4 – 1 by Sparrowhawks of Togo in the 2020 African Nations Championship  qualifier on Sunday.

    Sanusi made the appeal in a chat with NationSport, saying the score line was unbelievable because Nigeria teams have not lost with such margin in recent times.

    He, however, expressed confidence that the CHAN Eagles would turn the tide against the Togolese when they visit Nigeria for the return leg bill for October 19.

    He also enjoined the team’s technical crew to work with NFF technical department in the areas that need to be corrected before the second leg.

    “You should know that in football anything can happen within 90 minutes of play,” Sanusi said. “The boys didn’t play badly because they equally missed some chances.

    “We should not write them off because Nigerians are fighters when it comes to the round leather game.

    The coaching crew have ample opportunity now to do the needful before the second leg,” Sanusi noted.

    The General-Secretary further stated that the players and the coaching crew would commence camping immediately in Abuja while the coach will look for experienced home-based players to fortify the team.

  • WC review: FIFA knocks Falcons over poor showing in France

    World Soccer Ruling body, FIFA, under the aegis of its Technical Study Group (TSG) has given a damning verdict on the performance of the Super Falcons at the recently concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.

    The Coach Thomas Dennerby-led side beat only Korea Republic (2-0) in their Preliminary Group A match but lost 3-0 to Norway and 1-0 to hosts France to sneak into the second round as one of the best losers. But the Falcons failed to progress further following an unimpressive 3-0 loss to Germany in the Round of 16.

    In an analytical review of the tournament, the TSG headed by American April Heinrichs and working in conjunction  with the FIFA Coaching and Player Development Department led by Branimir Ujevic, scored the Super Falcons below average  in almost all the departments of the game as it allocated 40 per cent for possession in all the four matches while they also came in distant 13th position in the overall standing.

    The team also came a distant 16th averaging a mere 25 percent in the Opponents and Opposition Defenders Bypassed category and were also awarded 21 per cent in the Crosses and Cross success.

    It would be recalled that the Super Falcons only scored two goals in four matches in France consequently the TSG awarded them with just 1.3 points  as per shots on target  even as the team  finished bottom as the team with the least distance coverage with 100.5km in four matches.

    Yet Super Falcons’ assistant coach at the tournament and former Nigerian international, Maureen Mmadu has stoutly defended the performance of the team in France, even as she admitted there is room for improvement.

    “I’m yet to digest fully the report of the TSG but the truth is that we did our best in France because it was the first time we reached the  round of 16  since  at the FIFA World Cup since 1999,” Mmadu who  is the only Nigerian women  with over 100  international caps told NationSport.

    “Our coaching crew led by Thomas Dennerby tried our best to impact discipline and professionalism into the team  and I believe we could have even done more if we’d continue with the program we have for the team  after the World Cup in France.”

    Mmadu who played in four FIFA World Cups with the Super Falcons in her active days said that Nigerian clubs and players would have to imbibe true professionalism to enhance the growth of the game.

    “We still have a long way to go but our players need to be as professional as their counterparts in Europe and they must be ready to sacrifice especially when they are playing for the Super Falcons,” she noted.

  • Rohr: my squad against Brazil ready

    Nigerians rooting for Chelsea’s duo of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori to don the Super Eagles colours would have to wait a little longer, according to Coach Gernot Rohr.

    Though enthusiastic about the prospect of adding the duo to the Super Eagles, the German said it is a long process before the players can make the expected switch since they had already featured for England.

    He cited the fact that Abraham and Tomori have played with the English youth teams would make it difficult to process their eligibility for the Super Eagles.

    He used Torino’s Ola Aina as an example of how difficult it was to change nationality. “The two players (Abraham and Tomori) have already played with England and there is a long process to follow before they can feature for Nigeria,” Rohr said in a chat with NationSport.

    Read Also: Rohr unfazed by Nigeria’s drop on FIFA rankings

    He added: “It took NFF one year before we could get Ola Aina to play for us.”

    Meanwhile, Rohr hinted: “My squad he has already submitted the Super Eagles team list for the next month’s International friendly between Nigeria and Brazil to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The Super Eagles will face the five-time world champions on October 13 at the National Stadium in Singapore.

    The thee-time African champions Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign for the 2021 AFCON on November 11 against Benin Republic at the southern Nigerian town of Benin City. Sierra Leone and Lesotho are the other teams in their qualifying group.

  • World best: Messi 6, Ronaldo 5, Barca star wins record title

    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won the best men’s player at the Best FIFA Football Awards in Milan as Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk missed out on the top prize.

    It is the sixth time Messi has been voted the best player in the world ahead or Ronaldo who has five awards, while van Dijk, who won UEFA’s best award, made the final short list for the first time.

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp won the men’s coach of the year. Klopp was nominated for the award along with two other Premier League bosses – Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino.

    The Reds boss announced at the end of his acceptance speech that he has joined the Common Goal campaign.

    Common Goal is a charitable project, started by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, with the aim of using the power of football to generate social change and improve people’s lives.

    It’s members donate one per cent of their income to active projects in all continents.

    USA star Megan Rapinoe is named FIFA Women’s Best Player. Rapinoe hailed Raheem Sterling for his stance against and many others after winning the award.

  • Plots to retain running mate tear Bayelsa PDP

    Members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State have threatened to defect following plots by the party to retain Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor as running mate.

    The nomination of Ewrujakpor, who hails from Sagbama Local Government, has kept the PDP on edge ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Governor Seriake Dickson convened a stakeholders’ meeting to review the controversies surrounding the candidate and explore the possibility of substituting Ewrujakpor’s name before the September 23 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidate substitution.

    Members were, however, not happy that no statement was made on the matter after the meeting.

    Besides, many stakeholders did not attend the meeting where Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei was appointed director-general of the Senator Douye Diri Governorship Campaign Organisation.

    Ayawei, who chairs the Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board, was a frontline aspirant in the primaries, which produced Diri.

    Read Also: Running mate crisis: Bayelsa PDP convenes stakeholders’ meeting

    A statement by the Secretary, Chief Godspower Keku, said Ayawei’s appointment was part of the key resolutions of a meeting by the Governorship Campaign Advisory Council.

    Though the stakeholders kept mum on Diri’s running mate, it was gathered that the candidate briefed them on the issue.

    A party member said Diri was under pressure to retain  Ewrujakpor.

    He added that he told stakeholders that there was no need to substitute his running mate.

    The source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Most of the party members are waiting for the decision to be made public. If the party leadership fails to make it public and the name remains till the expiration of the September 23 deadline, there will be mass exodus in the PDP.

    “The only way to save the party is to zone the deputy governorship to Bayelsa East. We need their votes. People are not happy at the development and they have communicated their grievances. We are asking the governor and other party leaders to save the PDP.”

    Following Diri’s election as the party’s governorship candidate, some leaders abandoned PDP and aligned with APC.

    A member of the House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Target Sekiibo, moved to APC with his supporters.

    Gabriel Jonah, younger brother to Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), led thousands in Nembe to APC.

    Similarly, a grassroots mobiliser and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Urban Crime Management, Abednego Don-Evarad, dumped the party in Ogbia for APC.

    Following the running mate crisis, Dickson sacked his aide, Hellen Bob, who reportedly pitched tent with APC.

    The source added: “Many people are warming up to leave the party but they are waiting for the decision of the party’s leadership on this running mate palaver. Some PDP lawmakers have travelled to Abuja to meet with the leadership of the APC and negotiate their way out of the PDP. We are still begging the party leadership to listen to the voices of its members and resolve this issue.”

  • Buhari unfolds plans to reverse climate change effects in Nigeria

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A) announced robust plans and initiatives by his administration to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Nigeria.

    A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Abuja, said the plans were revealed in his address to the United Nations Climate Action Summit with the theme: A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win.

    While sharing the sentiment expressed by the UN Secretary-General that the world is on the verge of climate catastrophe, President Buhari stated that “undeniably, Climate Change is a human-induced phenomenon.”

    He stressed the need for Member States to step-up their collective climate actions in line with the request of the Secretary General.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari speaks at UNGA-74 climate change summit

    “It is in this regard that I wish to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to its obligation under the Paris Agreement, the aspirations enshrined in our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and ensure a resilient future that mainstreams climate risks in our decision making.

    “I want to announce that the Government of Nigeria will develop a more robust sectorial action plan, and expand the scope of our Sovereign Green Bonds in line with our intended upward review of Nigeria’s NDC’s towards the inclusion of the water and waste sectors by 2020,” he said.

    On the water sector, President Buhari revealed that Nigeria would issue a Green Bond for irrigation and construct multi-purpose dams for power, irrigation and water supply.

    He said: “We will strengthen solid and liquid waste management systems to attract more private sector investors.

    “We will take concrete steps to harness climate innovative ideas by including youths in decision making processes as part of our over-all climate governance architecture.

    “We will mobilize Nigerian youths towards planting 25 million trees to enhance Nigeria’s carbon sink.”

    The Nigerian leader also disclosed that Nigeria had embarked on diversification of its energy sources from dependence on gas-powered system to hydro, solar, wind, biomass and nuclear sources.

  • Abducted SAN Onyemenam freed

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chike Onyemenam, who was kidnapped a week ago on the Benin/Asaba highway, has been released.

    Onyemenam was kidnapped on September 16 at Utulu junction on the Benin/Asaba express road.

    Read Also: 14 passengers abducted in Osun freed

    A family source confirmed that Onyemenam was released at the weekend after the family paid a ransom.

    The hoodlums were said to have asked for N15 million.

    “We give glory to God that he was not hurt,” the source added.

    The police, who said they were not aware of Onyemenam’s kidnap, confirmed his release.

  • PDP chieftain abducted in Benue

    The state of insecurity in the country was clearly illustrated in Benue State when a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his way to a security meeting was abducted by gunmen before he got to the venue.

    Mr Ben Akile, a chieftain of the PDP, was travelling from Zaki Biam to Katsina Ala in Benue North-East senatorial district when the vehicle he was riding in was stopped by gun-wielding men who seized him and took him away.

    Akile was on his way to attend a zonal meeting of the party where attendees were scheduled to discuss the insecurity in the middle belt and proffer solution to it.

    Read Also: Senate to back Buhari’s plans on economy, insecurity, says Sani

    Mr  Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, was billed to be at the meeting.

    An eyewitness Paul Unande told The Nation that Akile was travelling alongside other top party leaders in a vehicle belonging to state party legal adviser Mr. Tela Mue when the gunmen stopped them.

    It was learnt that the abductors shot at them from the bush, robbed them of cash and other valuables before taking Akile to an unknown destination.

    At press time the gunmen were yet to contact the family of the victim.