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Tag: Onu

  • Nigerian astronaut to land in Space by 2030, says Onu

    Nigerian astronaut to land in Space by 2030, says Onu

    THE Federal Government is putting all the structures on ground to ensure that a Nigerian astronaut lands in space on or before 2030, Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu said yesterday.

    He spoke when the management team of Defence Space Agency led by Air Vice Marshal Victor Udo visited him in Abuja.

    According to Dr. Onu,  “the space programme is a very important programme for a country like Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology  would work very hard in the years to come to strengthen all the structures of the agencies that would help us to ensure  that the nation  play role in the space”.

     “We believe that this is achievable and we are working very hard to make sure that all the structures that are needed is provided,” he emphasised.

    The minister noted that Nigeria has the highest population and economy in Africa; hence it is a right decision to establish the Space Defence Agency.

    “The space is major asset, which nation like Nigeria, must also be involved for the purposes of protecting our own national interest.”

  • Nigeria to start production of pencils, says Onu

    Nigeria to start production of pencils, says Onu

    Nigeria will begin production of pencils in the next two years, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said.

    After a facility tour of Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, Onu said the project would create over 400,000 jobs–in line with the vision of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    He said it was wrong for the country to be importing pencils when it has the capacity to produce them.

    “It is unthinkable that 55 years after independence, Nigeria is still not producing pencils when we have the human and material resources in the country to do so.

    “PRODA has to produce pencils for Nigeria and they have given me the assurance that this can be done and that with pencil manufacture here we will be creating 400,000 new jobs.

    “The Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to creating new jobs and growing our economy,” he said.

    Onu said the ministry would give PRODA the necessary assistance to realise the project, adding that the agency could do more than it was doing now with the needed support.

    He said the country could leverage on pencil production to increase its foreign earnings. “For the information of Nigerians, pencil is not produced anywhere in West Africa, so I am directing PRODA to realise this soon,” he said.

    Onu said another area of interest is in the production of Nigerian made six cylinder engines.

    “The six cylinder engine is one thing they must produce.

    “This is a mandate they have to work on because once we have the capacity to produce our own engine, then many of our defence and manufacturing requirements will be met.

    “We need to build the capacity for self-reliance in Nigeria. We are tired of copying others and importing all sorts of things. We want others to come to Nigeria and learn,” he said.

    Onu said the ministry had 17 agencies, adding that all the agencies would specialise in their areas of comparative advantage and efficiency to grow the economy.

    Earlier, the Director-General of PRODA, Mr Charles Agulanna, said  the agency, established by the former Eastern Nigeria government, was one of the oldest research institutes in the ministry.

    Agulanna, who was represented by the Director of Engineering, Dr Edwin Oriaku ,regretted that the institute had not received the attention it required from the Federal Government.

    He said allocation of funds had persistently been short of requirement for research and development.

    “PRODA’s yearning over the years for retooling to replace the obsolete machines inherited from the former Eastern Nigeria only started yielding results in 2009,” he said.

    He expressed regret that some materials imported for the production of pencils had been withheld at a Lagos wharf for over 20 years.

    “The degree of success we achieved in PRODA in awakening local capabilities in equipment manufacture is indicated by the vast numbers of self-employed craftsmen surviving on equipment disseminated by us,” he said.

    Agulanna said  the institute had the capacity to make greater impact in the country if enabled

  • Onu to Buhari: factor Biafra agitators’ grievances into govt policy

    Onu to Buhari: factor Biafra agitators’ grievances into govt policy

    •President declines to speak on agitation
    at minister’s book presentation

    Minister  of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to factor in the grievances of Biafra agitators into government policies.

    The President, who spoke at the public presentation of a book, entitled “From Opposition to Governing Party: Nigeria’s APC Merger Story”, written by Onu, failed to respond to the minister’s remarks.

    Rather, Buhari asked politicians to guide against acts capable of destabilising the polity.

    The President traced his relationship with Dr. Onu to his days in protective custody, adding that Onu was among the few Nigerians who stood by him during his trying days.

    “My relationship with the author is cordial. When I was placed in protective custody, he was sending people to greet me regularly. That was how the relationship developed. We realised in 2015 that unless we come together, the PDP will succeed in killing Nigeria. We had to make sacrifices,” he said.

    Onu said: “In the Southeastern part of the country, there is a growing protest. It is important that all regions are represented in an orderly manner that represents all interests. Buhari understands the plurality of Nigeria and will do everything to accommodate all.

    “The Igbos need Nigeria just Nigeria needs the Igbos. We must assure the youths of the South-east that the administration of President Buhari means well for them.”

    Onu explained how the three legacy political parties gave up their identities to form the largest political party in Africa, saying “What happened has never been witnessed in Nigeria or Africa when political parties merged to defeat a ruling party. Three political parties gave up their identities to form the largest political party in the history of this country.

    “Before this historic event, several efforts were made to bring the opposition parties together. None of that worked. In the past, we had tried to work together. At first, it appeared possible until the whole process collapsed. But in 2013, APC was born. This book is to document the events that led to the formation of the APC. It is about how we moved from being an opposition party to become the ruling party.

    “This book will help APC to learn from the mistakes of the PDP and avoid what led to their downfall. In this journey of merger, the hand of God was clearly with us. Most people thought it was insurmountable.

    “It is important for me to stress that in writing this book, I do not have any other interest, but to contribute to history. APC will help transform Nigeria into a great nation. The hands of God has remained with this nation. We must all work together to build a Nigeria that is united, strong and prosperous.”

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was Chairman of the book presentation, said Onu was a man who has a healthy combination of competence, sharp intellect and humility and a gentleman in every good sense of the word.

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal described Onu as a man of many parts, pointing out that he had the privilege of being the Speaker of the House of Representatives when all that is captured in the book happened.

    Tambuwal said: “Then, I was maintaining a very delicate balance. My emergence as Speaker in 2011 was as a result of the efforts of all parties. Back then, the formation of APC was already in the wing.”

    Those present at the book presentation also include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, former Sokoto State Governor Magatakarda Wamako, former Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu, former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and others.

  • Onu seeks Chinese support to create jobs

    The Minister of  Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday solicited the support of Chinese government to boost job creation in Nigeria.

    Onu who spoke while receiving a business  delegtion led by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie  in his office in Abuja, said unemployment could lead to an epidemic.

    He said it is important for Nigeria to collaborate with the Chinese government to tap from its experience and technology as well as boost trade cooperation among African countries.

    Onu said the ministry will build on the existing excellent working relationship with China to harness the growth potential of the country.

    The minister said creating employment was imperative to address the challenges facing the country.

    “The Science and Technology sector will assume its rightful place in national development so as to make Nigeria self-sufficient in meeting the challenges of daily living.

    “The sector will be fully involved in creating employment and empowering the country’s teeming youths to make meaningful contributions to national development,” he said.

  • Why we want to serve, by Fayemi, Mohammed, Onu

    Why we want to serve, by Fayemi, Mohammed, Onu

    Udoma, Danbazzau, Amina Mohammed, Ehanire, Jibrin, Ogbeh,  Adamu also screened

    Saraki unveils 16 would-be ministers

    For over five hours yesterday, 10 would-be ministers took turns before the Senate, answering questions on their plans for the country, if confirmed.

    They were the first set of ministerial nominees to be screened.

    They are on the first list of 21 nominees sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki on September 30 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The remaining 11 on the list are expected to appear before the Senate today.

    Those screened yesterday are Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma (Akwa Ibom State), former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau (Kano), Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara), Mrs. Amina Ibrahim Mohammed (Gombe), Suleiman Adamu and Ibrahim Jibrin.

    Before the exercise began, Dr. Saraki read out the names on the second list of nominees sent to him by the President on Monday.

    On the list are Khadija Buka Abba Ibrahim, (Yobe), Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo), Prof. Anthony Anwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyeama ; Brig. Gen. M.M. Dan-Ali (rtd) (Zamfara); Barrister James E. Ocholi (Kogi) and Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammad Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri; Ms. Aisha Abubakar, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Prof. Isaac Adewole (Osun); Pastor Usani Usani Uguru and Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger).

    After adopting last Thursday’s votes and proceedings, the Senate went into a closed door session to spell out the rules for the screening.

    Led into the chamber by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang. Senator Udoma took his turn first.

    Saraki asked him to introduce himself and prepare to answer (Senate) questions.

    Udoma said he had not been involved in partisan politics since he left the Senate in 2007.

    He pledged to contribute his quota to the growth of the country if confirmed.

    The nominee was asked to “take a bow and go” after he spoke about the need for the country to pay more attention to the economy.

    Fayemi said he was delighted to appear before the Senate for screening.

    The former governor said he considers himself a teacher and a researcher.

    Senator Olusola Adeyeye asked him about the debt he was alleged to have left in Ekiti and the huge sum he was also alleged to have spent on furnishing the Government House.

    Fayemi said he believed that government is a continuum, adding that no government could run without obligations.

    He said he inherited a debt in excess of N30 billion, including money owed contractors, when he became governor.

    According to him, he worked to liquidate the debt to give the state the leverage for development.

    Fayemi said while he was in office as governor, Ekiti received about N3 billion as federation allocation, but had a N2.4 billion monthly wage bill.

    The former governor said he approached the capital market to raise a N25 billion bond for the state’s development.

    The debt he left behind, he said, was not in the range of what is being bandied about by some people.

    He challenged those alleging that he bought a N50 million bed to furnish the Government House to produce the proof.

    The nominee said: “I challenge anyone to bring an invoice of a bed in the State House that is worth N50million. I did not spend irresponsibly on it. The State House we met was probably one of the cheapest state houses in Nigeria.

    “I used my relationship to raise a lot of funds with institutions like the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID). There is no country that does not borrow. I did not borrow to pay salaries.”

    Ekiti, he said has one of the best health care services in the country, adding that he initiated the payment of N5,000 to the elderly monthly as social welfare. This initiative, he said, has been embraced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level.

    The former governor said he did not borrow to pay salaries insisting that he built a new Government House because the state never had a befitting Government House.

    He described the Government House as a multi-purpose edifice.

    Fayemi said there was nothing he put in the Government House that he walked away with.

    He went on: “There is no N50 million bed in Ekiti Government House. It was not even up to N25 million”.

    The former governor put the cost of the Government House at N2.5 billion, saying the edifice “remains a Legacy House.”

    Fayemi, who said he was never an apostle of third term, noted that alteration of power is the best way to deepen democracy and not to perpetuate oneself in office.

    Ogbe said he was not appearing before the Senate for confirmation because he is looking for something new, because President Buhari deemed it fit to nominate him to serve as a minister.

    His explanation, he said, was informed by what he had read about his nomination.

    On why movement from one party to another is rampant in the country, Ogbe said defection happens everywhere, especially in emerging democracies.

    He said internal democracy should be taken seriously in the country, adding that the tendency to hand over the party machinery to the President and governors is harmful.

    Ogbe was asked to take a bow and go.

    Onu talked about the need to diversify power generation for steady supply.

    He stressed the need to use coal for power generation, saying is better than gas for power generation.

    Dr. Ehanire spoke about poor medical services in the country.

    The nominee said he is involved in the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation which aims to train and retrain traditional birth attendants.

    Lt. Gen. Dambazau spoke about the need to review the country’s defence policy from time to time to provide the guideline for defence issues.

    Dambazau said the armed forces depend on the defence policy to form battle guidelines.

    On defence budget, he said when he was the Chief of Army Staff, the maximum he could spend was N15 million, adding that this was later increased to N20 million.

    Dambazau said anything above N20 million was referred to the Minister of Defence for approval.

    He said that was the practice until he left Service.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed caused a stir when he entered the Chambers. He was hailed and cheered by APC senators, while their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts hooted.

    The APC spokesperson bowed six times before Dr. Saraki amid a thunderous applause as as senators.

    When the chambers became silent Dr. Saraki intoned: “The nominee before you Distinguished Senators is from Kwara State.”

    Saraki asked whether the Senators have Mohammed’s Curriculum Vitae (CV). There was deafening a “yes, yes, yes” in the chamber.

    Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume rose from his seat, saying: “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is very well known to this chamber. I move that he should take a bow and go.”

    PDP senators half heardly opposed the motion.

    Saraki urged Mohammed to tell the chamber “a little about himself” in line with the Senate’s convention.

    Mohammed complied and introduced himself, saying he was in the chamber to seek the senators’ to be confirmed as minister. “I demands higher service to be in government”.

    In a lighter mood, Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio said: “This is the Senate and not a House of Assembly. If I know the nominee very well, he may have one or two propaganda to drop before he takes a bow.”

    There was general laughter in the chamber.

    Before he took a bow and left, Mohammed promised that if confirmed, he would be passionate, committed and patriotic.”

    Amina Mohammed spoke on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) where she once served as Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Suleiman Adamu spoke about road construction and the Ministry of Works. Mr. Ibrahim Usman Jibrin talked about the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where he once worked in the Department of Development Control.

    When the Senate rose around 5.15 pm, Dr. Saraki  said the Senate in the committee of the Whole considered the President’s request for the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees.

    He adjourned the exercise till today.

    It is expected that all the nominees would be confirmed tomorrow when the 37 nominees would have been screened.

    Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Dino Melaye said the Senate would conclude the screening tomorrow.

    He said the chamber gave Lai Mohammed a red carpet reception because he is a prominent APC member.

    Melaye also asked the nominees unveiled yesterday to make their CVs available to facilitate their screening.

    He said another 10 nominees would be screened today.

  • Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola, Onu make ministerial list

    Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola, Onu make ministerial list

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday received the first set of names of would-be ministers to be screened by lawmakers.

    The list was presented to him after plenary at about 5pm by the President’s  Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on National Assembly Matters Ita Enang.

    On his twitter handle at about 5:20 p.m, Saraki wrote: “I can now confirm that I just received the list of ministerial nominees.”

    The list was submitted in a sealed envelope by  Kyari and Enang.

    The Senate President’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “Dr. Saraki, following the tradition of the Senate, decided that the envelope will remain sealed till Tuesday October 6, when during the plenary sitting of the Upper legislative chamber, it will be opened and the list read to Senators.”

    But sources last night said key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ex-senators, technocrats and ex-governors are on the list.

    APC chief and former Minister Mr. Audu Ogbeh; Southeast APC leader Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Director General of the Buhari campaign organisation and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi are likely to be on the list.

    Others presented for senators’ screening are former Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti);  former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Abubakar Malami.

    Three women – a former Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan and Mrs Amina J. Mohammed, Special Assistant to UN Secretary General on Post-2015 Development Planning are also ministerial nominees.

    Mrs Amina Mohammed, born 1961, was appointed to her role with the UN secretary general in June 2012.

    The mother of six previously worked for six years with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    Incidentally, Mrs Adeosun’s name is also on the list of commissioner-nominees sent to the Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Amaechi and Fayemi were on the trip to the 70th United Nations General Assembly in NewYork with President Muhammadu Buhari. The delegation returned yesterday.

    Others on the list are  Senator Hadi Sirika, a pilot, who represented Katsina North in the senate between 2011 and 2015. He was elected on the ticket of Buhari’s former party, the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) and a former Anambra State Governor Chris Nwabueze Ngige. Ngige, a medical doctor, was also a senator between 2011 and 2015.

    There are also Solomon Dalong and Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who is likely to be Minister of State for Petroleum.Buhari has announced himself as oil minister.

    Osagie Ehanire, Udoma Udo-Udoma, Ahmed Isa Ibeto, Sulaiman Adamu and Ibrahim Jibril are also on the list, according to sources.

  • Buhari giving Nigeria a new deal, says Onu

    Buhari giving Nigeria a new deal, says Onu

    Former Abia State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said yesterday that the APC government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, is doing everything to take the country to a new direction where honesty and patriotism reign.

    Onu, who spoke when he received a delegation from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) at his Abuja home, also said the three legacy parties formed the APC because of the realisation that the nation was in need of change.

    The former governor said the formation of the APC gave Nigerians hope, adding that today, the APC had grown from a party to a mass movement of change.

    He said under President Buhari Nigeria would rediscover its lost virtues, adding Nigeria would play a greater role in the search for global peace and prosperity.

    While praising the NDI for deepening democracy across the world, Onu said the APC and the Federal Government would, in future, establish an institute, such as the NDI, to play the same role, noting that nations embracing democracy hardly go to war.

    Onu said: “It is clear the President is taking Nigeria to a new direction, and this  is important because we are rediscovering values that make Nigeria a great nation.

    “Values that were overlooked; values that a society needs to become a great. Values, such as honesty and patriotism. Nigeria was born a great nation and did great things in the past and there’s so much expectation, not just in Africa but the world over.

    “We believe that the new direction will make Nigeria play a vital role in the search for global peace and prosperity. I believe we will do what the NDI is doing, I am sure the APC will get an institute to do the same because we have seen that nations that embrace democracy hardly go to war.’’

    Leader of the delegation, Nana Ato Dadzie, from Ghana, said they were in the country to assess the nation’s transition programme, noting that many African countries had transited from one government to the other, especially when handing over to a different party.

    Dadzie said “without a sound transition arrangement, a sound election can be botched. In many countries, transition continues over and over again because  sound foundations are not laid.

    “Our mandate here is to look at the operations on the ground, what exist in Nigeria and to advise the NDI headquarters.”

  • Onu: Buhari determined to rebuild Nigeria

    Onu: Buhari determined to rebuild Nigeria

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogbonaya Onu, yesterday reassured that President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to rebuild Nigeria.

    He spoke when the Association of Northern Nigeria Students paid him a courtesy call in his Abuja residence.

    Onu stated that Buhari will build a nation that all will be proud of, adding Nigerians will earn the respect of the international community.

    He said: “The Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari is determined to build a modern nation for us.

    “A nation in which all of us as Nigerians will be proud of and the people of other nations will respect.

    “You don’t ask anybody to respect you and you get that respect. You work for it when you behave in a way that you should be respected, people will respect you.”

    The chieftain admonished the students not to despair, stating that the current administration will build a united, peaceful and prosperous nation that would guarantee the future of unborn Nigerians.

    His words: “This is what is going to happen because a new nation is going to emerge from what we have.

    “It is when that happens that your future and the future of your own children, our children and grandchildren will be better guaranteed.”

  • Onu rallies Igbo support for Buhari, APC

    Onu rallies Igbo support for Buhari, APC

    A NATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, yesterday said every Nigerian, including the Igbo race, should support President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Onu, a former Abia State governor, made the urge when he hosted a five-member planning committee of the World Igbo Conference in his Abuja home.

    The committee was led Chief Ben Aranusi, who said the Ndigbo seemed not to know their rightful place in the country.

    He said the Ndigbo owed it a duty to fully support the President, who has demonstrated a genuine commitment to move the country forward with the faithful implementation of the APC blue print.

    Dr. Onu described as incalculable the benefits awaiting the Igbo, who he noted, live everywhere across the country.

    He assured his kinsmen that the Buhari-led administration will work for all irrespective of ethnic, political or religious inclination.

    Calling on the Ndigbo to rally round the APC and the President, the APC chief recalled that the Igbos in the 19 northern states demonstrated their commitment towards building this new thinking by voting massively for the in March 28 and April 11 general elections.

    His words: “Ohaneze must be commended for what it’s doing as regards the welfare of Igbo throughout the country and beyond.

    “We have Igbo everywhere in Nigeria and across the world. We, as Igbo, are the only major ethnic group that is not indigenous to any other country in the world.

    So, you look at ethnic groups that are indigenous in Nigeria, what that means is that outside Nigeria, there is no other country for the Igbos. For other major ethnic groups, this is not the case.”