The Nation Newspaper

Tag: seeks

  • India seeks to hike Africa trade volume

    The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in conjunction with Government of India in a report, yesterday shared its goals of hiking up India-Africa bilateral trade volume to $150 billion and strengthening business and trade ties with the states of West Africa through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    The Confederation of Indian Industry said this at the CII-Exim Bank Regional Conclave on India-West Africa Project Partnership conference which took place at Abuja, yesterday.

    Amongst other goals, they also aim to enable African manufacturing to move up the value chain by enhanced collaboration between Indian and African enterprises, and also enhance Africa’s exports to India by optimal utilisation of Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme.

    The Project Partnership focuses on sustainable and inclusive financing, infrastructure, manufacturing and connectivity, mining, agriculture and food processing, services trade, and power and energy cooperation as sustainable development programs.

    The Chair, CII Taskforce on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor and former Ambassador of India to Germany, Indonesia and Ethiopia, Gurjit Singh, during the occasion expressed the need for India and West Africa to form and develop partnerships to enhance bilateral trade and benefits associated with it.

  • NCC seeks interconnectivity among data centres for e-health

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged all data centres in the country to a central data centre domiciled at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the promotion of electronic or e-health.

    It strongly believes the country would in the near future, join the league of nations where e-health thrives.

    Its Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof Garba Danbatta, who spoke while receiving a delegation of the University of Abuja, Teaching Hospital, led by its Board Chairman, Dr Sam Jaja, and the Chief Medical Director, Prof Bisallah Ahmed Ekele, who paid a courtesy call at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja, said the world is moving towards digital transformation age.

    He said: “We are moving gradually towards what I call, the digital transformation of the country, and this, you can do stage by stage. A time will come when everything will be online. If you want the record of a patient referred to you from a different hospital, you just do it with a press of a button and you have the patient’s history.

    “And a patient travelling abroad for medical reason may not have the need to carry the hard copy of his medical history with him. These are all parts of the global e-health architecture that we hope to put in place in the not- too -distant future.”

    He added that ICT could be leveraged to ensure computerisation of records and fast-tracking diagnosis and treatment in the nation’s hospitals.

    “Our intervention in university inter-campus connectivity project has made distance a non-issue by providing you with high speed and reliable high-speed connectivity that will facilitate communication between your campuses.

    “And we see the university teaching hospital as an important component of this project. And then there’s a data centre and facility that will enable you to capture the data of the most important things you are doing, including serving as a repository of student records, academic records, medical records and all kinds of records, which will be difficult to keep in hard copy form. We decided that universities like Unibuja will require data centres that will ensure a reliable source of keeping data, which is retrievable at a press of a button, he said.

    Earlier, Dr Jaja had praised the EVC and the NCC for the significant interventions in the hospital.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Prof Ekele, told the EVC that the NCC’s intervention was the first major assistance the medical institution had received in its 25-year history.

  • Group seeks ways to boost jobs

    THE Association of Micro Enterprises of Nigeria (AMEN) President, Prince Saviour Iche, has called on the government to support the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector.

    Speaking in Lagos, Iche, also Chief Executive Officer of Bright Future Hope Enterprises, an indigenous cosmetics company, said SMEs remained the catalyst for socio-economic change, employment and wealth creation.

    He added that  SMEs have been unable to achieve the competitiveness that would allow them to drive manufacturing sector and overall economic growth, employment and poverty reduction.

    He attributed this to problems that SMEs face in accessing adequate financing and business development services.

    With job creation, one of the biggest problems faced by Nigeria today, Iche noted that the industry needs a sustainable plan to convert some job seekers into job creators.

    According to him, Nigeria needs to reduce barriers and provide support what will accelerate entrepreneurial growth and enable entrepreneurs to satisfy an existing demand, create jobs for people.

    If Nigeria is to tap the entrepreneurial talent of its people, he urged the government to enact significant reforms that increase support for new businesses in the formal sector.

    He said the sector needs a multi-pronged approach that will address key constraints to SME financing and development by focusing on the creation of a more enabling policy/regulatory and institutional framework for SME finances.

    According to him, there was a need to help banks gain better access to longer term financing for lending to the sector; strengthening business development services and market linkage programmes for SMEs.

    He urged the government to improve SME access to finance and business development services, thereby fostering growth, competitiveness and employment creation.

  • Council seeks more dry docks

    The Federal Government has been advised to establish more dry docks to create jobs and boost shipping business, especially now that the sea ports are attracting more vessels.

    Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (PCC) Chairman Kunle Folarin said dry docks were necessary to improve ship maintenance and seaworthiness, considering the number of vessels received at the sea ports.

    Their establishment, he said, would attract more cargoes to the ports and unprove trade within the sub-region. Folarin said floating docks and the dry docks should be equipped with materials for seaworthiness of vessels.

    “A ship cannot sail without being seaworthy and a ship is supposed to be dry-docked within a time-frame. Then you need dry docks to perform such compliance requirements. We probably have one (dry dock), and we are talking of Nigerian ports attracting more vessels as the year is going to an end,” he said.

    Folarin said ship owners could use dry docks for compliance with sea-worthiness certification; repairs, and for trans-shipment of cargo to other areas within West and Central African regions. He suggested that the marine environment should be well-utilised through infrastructure development.

    “In the context of Nigeria, we know that we have massive maritime potential. Nigeria has all the potential to become a key player. If we have fully utilised the opportunities provided by our maritime domain, we would have seen ship-building yards in Nigeria.

    “Certainly, our ports would have been the preferred port and hub for trans-shipment. We would have established competitive port costs that would attract more traffic to the ports’’. He suggested that a manpower-building programme should be set  up by the government and its agencies.

    He said more gains would come from developing skills such as nautical science, survey, foundry, ship-building and other manpower development programmes.

    An importer, Mr Felix Solomon, said dry docks were essential since the rate of polluting territorial waters, illegal fishing and dumping of hazardous wastes has reduced.

    He said the country needs to work with foreign partners to develop the dry docking industry.

    Solomon, however, said putting an end to the dumping of toxic waste in maritime domain and curtailment of crimes on the coastline require commitment by the Federal Government through the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

  • Buhari seeks partnership to fight human trafficking, smuggling

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has called for collaboration among nations to fight human trafficking and smuggling of persons.

    Buhari made the call at the 16th INTERPOL Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling yesterday in Abuja.

    He was represented by Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Olusegun Adekunle.

    “Human trafficking, which is destroying the future of our youths, requires our collective efforts to eradicate,” he said.

    The President said Nigeria was among the first set of countries to domesticate United Nations (UN) relevant protocols on trafficking in persons and smuggling of persons.

    Buhari said the protocols were at various times domesticated, resulting in the country’s enactment of the trafficking in persons prohibition law enforcement Act and eradication Act 2003 and the 1963 Immigration Act.

    The Immigration Act, the President said, empowered the service to combat the smuggling of migrants.

    He added that the country had recorded a landmark in the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

    Buhari noted that the collaborative efforts of the country’s security agencies had resulted in several interceptions, arrest and prosecution and conviction of 359 traffickers and smugglers.

    He urged the INTERPOL and relevant agencies to deepen already established collaboration in order to combat this modern day slavery to a standstill.

    Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris said the force was at the forefront in the fight against the ugly trend.

    Idris, who was represented by DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover, said trafficking and smuggling in persons posed a threat to both the victims and the world.

    Secretary General of INTERPOL Mr. Jurgen Stock said trafficking in human beings and smuggling remained a prominent challenge for law enforcement.

    He noted that the trend had opened the door for the exploitation of those simply seeking improved well-being and opportunities.

  • Ashafa seeks APC members’ support at primary

    SENATOR Gbenga Ashafa said yesterday that he is ready recontest for the Lagos East in the 2019 election.

    He urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) members to defend their votes at the primary.

    Speaking at a conference attended by members of the Lagos East APC, he said there were important issues concerning Lagos that needed to be logically concluded.

    He said the special status for Lagos initiated by Senator Oluremi Tinubu was already enjoying the support of his colleagues at the National Assembly.

    Ashafa said it was important to follow it to a logical conclusion, noting that his good relationship with colleagues across different parts of the country had helped in gaining support for the issue.

    The senator said: “You will agree with me that our district currently stands tall on the legislative precedents that have been laid down by the succession of senators that have represented us since 1999.

    “It is a legacy of excellence, which the Lagos East District has worked hard to maintain and improve upon. Nothing short of excellence is expected and nothing short of excellence is deserved by the resilient, industrious and hardworking people of Lagos East.

    “In the last seven years, through your supports, I have been able to deliver 96 per cent verifiable and functional projects, 26 bills and 12 motions of local and national importance. We have been able to deliver poverty alleviation programmes that have benefitted 50,000 of our constituents directly and even more.”

    The senator urged the people to vote him at the APC primary, noting that he was the candidate to beat at the shadow polls.

    “I will contest in the primary scheduled for October 2, cast your vote for me and defend it. We need to prove to the world that power has returned to the people.

    “Politically, we have remained one. We have remained resolutely committed to the progressives and democratic ideals of our National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and our great party the APC.

    Also speaking, Lagos East APC leader Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun said the party should support its present senators, adding that Ashafa and his colleagues had done well.

    He said: “The party cannot afford to deny senators who are presently making huge contributions at the National Assembly. We need Senator Ashafa at the National Assembly.”

  • CACOL seeks passage of Proceeds of Crime Bill

    The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has backed the calls for a quick passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill pending before the National Assembly.

    The group’s Executive Chairman Mr. Debo Adeniran recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, speaking during the submission of the report by a committee on audit of recovered funds, noted that passing the Bill into law would revolutionise the country’s asset recovery.

    “As Nigerians who have been mostly at the receiving end of the deleterious effects of corruption on the country, we cannot but agree with the president on this call as many have wondered aloud how and where the recovered funds are being managed and re-plugged into productive uses or whether they are simply being re-looted.

    “Aside from President Buhari’s claim that the passage of the bill should eradicate many of the challenges facing our asset recovery and management practice in the country, it would also avail the National Assembly the unique opportunity of making their own inputs in ensuring that all necessary loopholes are taken care of and that the ill truly serves the overall interest of Nigerians,” CACOL said.

    The group said the lawmakers should also ensure that government at all levels become more accountable and that politically-exposed persons and their cronies no longer feast on the people’s sweat and resources.

    ”Without mincing words, corruption has done an incalculable damage to the psyche and general well-being of majority Nigerians with basic necessities of life remaining ever elusive while those entrusted with public pulse live a life of wanton opulence.

    “Curiously too, the government continues to borrow from international lending institutions and other countries with our external debt profile now speculated to be over $US50billion, while virtually all these lending countries not interested in equipping the nation with the technical know-how that could enable us take ownership of their expertise or technology overtime.

    “It is, therefore, very clear that the solution is not in our customary profligate spending and borrowing but in proper management of the scarce resources and ensuring public probity.”

    According to CACOL, the revelation that over N769billion as recovered by the Presidential panel “is just a macro reflection of the mind-boggling rate at which our national resources are being pilfered by same people we pay so much to keep the system running”.

    “So, our position remains that, irrespective of the claim of lopsidedness or selectiveness in the fight against corruption, this government should be supported by other arms and the generality of Nigerians to finally sweep away the culture of impunity or ‘stealing not being corruption’ that has, hitherto, permeated the entire fabric of the nation.

    “This is the least our lawmakers could do for the nation and Nigerians expect nothing less as time ticks away,” CACOL said in a statement by its Media Coordinator Adegboyega Otunuga.

  • Ayakoroma seeks improved reading culture

    The immediate past Executive Secretary National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Coordinator, Post Graduate Programme, Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has advocated an improved reading culture.

    Ayaakoroma, in a lecture titled: The power IN the book… The power OF the book, which he presented at a literary event tagged The sit out with literary minds, organised by 1402BookLounge, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the reading culture of Nigerians is declining.

    He noted that a man that has the right information holds the power and the right information that gives a man power is in the book, adding that the answers to problems and quests are in books. He therefore charged Nigerians to improve their reading culture for them to be well-informed because a man who is not well-informed is mentally and socially deformed.

    The university don warned of the dangers of unwholesome use of the social media, especially by youths, saying it has affected their writing skills. He said people prefer jokes and other immoral contents to intellectual issues; and that the internet and other social media platforms are not bad, but that it is the way we use them that will determine whether they are salutary to our lives or not.

    Ayakoroma, who has three of his plays in the approved Bayelsa State Secondary School Syllabus, urged Nigerians to not only improve on their reading habits, but also write books because of the power in the book, which is the ingredients (knowledge) that can be harvested from books and the power of the book which is the benefits (dividends) of reading and writing books.

    The 1402BookLounge is a distinctive book resort, a place that offers fun, exciting and pleasurable book reading and experience in a beautiful serene and comfortable atmosphere; it is not just a library but a premium relaxation spot for book lovers.

    Founder of 1402 Book Lounge, Annette Ekineta David-West said the resort is different from libraries, as it, in addition, offers people what will make people relax while reading and following a story like taking tea, coffee, snacks, soft drinks and playing Chess or Scrabble.

    Dignitaries at the event included celebrated award-winning poet, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi; Prof Onyanye Kunle Olowu of the College of Medicine, Niger Delta University, Amassoma; former Commissioner for Information, Bayelsa State, Iniruo Wills, a lawyer; celebrated poet, novelist and former Speech Writer to Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha, Mr. Nengi Josef-Ilagha (Pope Pen I); Esueme Dan Kikile of Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCMDB); and Timi Ama Willis of Niger Delta University.

    There was a dance performance by Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe, several poetry renditions featuring Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, Nengi Josef-Ilagha and other budding poets, and a special performance of a nine-year-old saxophonist, Samuel Tokoni Okoya, to spice the event.

  • Infrastructure: Community seeks Ambode’s help

    Inidogbo community in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, through its Community Development Association (CDA), has inaugurated a 33KVA transformer.

    The project, which was carried out through self-help effort, was in line with the vision of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide electricity for all communities in the state through the Light Up Lagos Project initiative.

    Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the weekend, the Chairman of the CDA, Mr. Olawale Kazeem, said the self-help project which cost N50 million was embarked upon in a bid to provide electricity for residents of the area, even as he urged Governor Ambode to assist the community in its efforts to improve infrastructure, especially roads and health care delivery.

    He said: “We have been experiencing some challenges in road construction and health care delivery. We plead with the government to intervene in these crucial areas. This is the first time this community, which has existed for over 250 years, will have electricity.”

    Kazeem further said there was a balance of N6 million to be paid to the contractors handling the projects, which included cost of another transformer and high tension poles and cables to extend power to the remaining parts of the community.

    The Executive Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, Surakat Olorunfemi, who praised the efforts of the community, promised a donation of N1 million to assist the community.

    He also pledged to make the community be part of list of areas where projects would be executed next year.

    The elated Olorunfemi vowed to bring a developer who would build a market in the community.

    He also promised to construct a primary school and a health centre if the residents could donate land for the project.

    The council chief encouraged leaders to make provision for special land for religious, recreational centres and schools, among others.

    He advised residents to pay their taxes and levies and be part of the electioneering process by obtaining their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs).

    Prominent sons and daughters of Onidogbo such as the Baale, Chief Abdul Rasheed Kasali, Alhaja Omolara Eshinlokun and others were present at the event.

  • Aspirant seeks more support for APC

    An aspirant for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akintoye Albert, has urged Nigerians to continue to support the party.

    He said it is the only national party that can turn around the nation’s fortunes.

    Albert, who was in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, addressed reporters at Igbotako-Osooro in Okitipupa Local Government Area during his tour of the 23 wards of his constituency.

    The former chairman of Irele Local Government Area said: “For the country to move forward, we need continuity in government and APC is the party to do so. That is why I decided to join the race, following the call by my people to do so, having seen what I did for them within that period I was there.

    “It is not because I was in the House before that made me wanting to go back but for my people who want me to continue the good job I did for them while there.”

    Albert recalled that during while in House of Representatives, he initiated over N80 billion road projects that are ongoing – from Ajagba-Akotogbo-Iyansan-Iju-Osun through the Ohia Bridge linking Edo State.

    The aspirant also said he started empowerment of youths and the elderly, scholarships for indigent students, electrification and solar system projects at Ode-Aye and other areas, as well as the construction of the police post at Igbotako, among other constituency projects in the area.

    The former lawmaker promised to surpass his earlier achievements if voted to the National Assembly next year.