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Tag: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

  • We must embrace integrity to succeed as a nation – Osinbajo

    We must embrace integrity to succeed as a nation – Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says there is the need for Nigerians to embrace the virtue of integrity and hard work for the nation to move forward.

    Osinbajo made the remarks at the maiden edition of the South-West Regional Youths Summit in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    The Vice-President, who noted that lack of integrity and corruption was the major problem being faced by the country, said if corruption could be tackled, 70 per cent of nation’s problems would be solved.

    He said the nation had lost many international partners due to lack of integrity and trust.

    “Any nation that does not emphasise on integrity will always fail. The values of integrity and hard work are necessary for the development of our nation.’’

    He urged youths to embrace the virtue of hard work, self-education and value of small beginning to move to a greater level in life.

    “You don’t have to cheat or steal to be successful in life but you must be ready to convert your challenges to opportunities.

    Osinbajo also urged youths in the region to support the 25 years development agenda for the region and the development of the nation as a whole.

    In his remarks, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, said the summit was important to chart a positive course for the development of the western region.

    Aregbesola said it was painful that the region could not feed itself in spite of the abundance of human resources, adding that it was a challenge leaders of the region must take measures to resolve.

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, said the summit was aimed at promoting and enhancing the future of the western region.

    Ajimobi urged youths of the region not to give up, adding that they should have a positive mindset to ensure development of the region.

    Earlier, Mr Bola Ilori, the Commissioner for Regional Integration, said the summit was critical to repositioning the western region for the future.

    Ilori said the summit was also for interaction and participation of youths in the development of the 25 years master plan for the region.

    According to him, the youth are  important to the implementation and actualisation of the developmental plan for the region.

    Mr Seye Oyeleye, the Acting Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), said the inputs of the youth to the success of the master plan for the region were important. (NAN)

  • Don’t politicise herdsmen ’s killings – Osinbajo

    Don’t politicise herdsmen ’s killings – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday warned that the alleged killings by herdsmen should not be politicised.

    He said a political interpretation could ignite unprecedented crises.

    Osinbajo cautioned that under no condition should Nigerians allow anyone to create a religious crisis.

    Osinbajo sounded the warning during an inter-denominational church service to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

    The vice president said due to the prevailing circumstance regarding the violence and loss of lives in parts of the country, President Buhari had ordered the police and the armed forces to deal decisively with the situation and ensure that the perpetrators were found and punished.

    He recalled that it was the politicisation of Boko Haram at the early stage of the group that gave rise to its heinous activities, and enjoined Nigerians not to fall into another trap regarding the problems associated with herdsmen.

    Osinbajo said: “We must recognise that as dangerous and as deadly and heartless as these killings are, there is also the danger of our allowing politics to play a part as this could lead to what we sometimes say “pour petrol into an already burning fire.”

    “We must not permit the politicisation of this tragedy. One of the reasons why for years Boko Haram thrived, was because of the politicisation of the insurgency.

    “There were those who are planning to benefit politically from the tragedy and they painted the opposition then as the perpetrator.”

    The Vice President continued: “Again, we see some today who want to benefit politically from the killing of women and children in Adamawa, Benue, Jos and several other places stoking the embers of ethnicity and religion.

    “By their hate speeches, they want to fix the criminal acts of the few individuals on who thrives and hold people and they would want to create a religious crisis if they are allowed.

    “Our obligation is to stop them from playing dangerous politics that could threaten our unity and stability just as we continue to enforce the peace in the troubled areas.”

    Vice President lauded the commitment and dedication of Nigerian military personnel to service, particularly the fallen heroes, stating that save for their efforts, Nigerians would not have been enjoying the peace.

    Osinbajo said: “I am especially honoured to be here today to join family and friends of our departed heroes to mark this day when we remember the incredible sacrifices that they made to fill the vacuum.

    “We have seen in the past few years how this rights have been challenged by the mindless extremism of the Boko Haram in the North East and how again our gallant military, the police and even the civilian population have risen jointly to rout these criminal combatants and restore peace to most communities in that zone.

    “We have also seen even recently the killings that have resulted from the attacks of herdsmen and farmers and communities and also where farmers and communities have attacked herdsmen.”

    “The president has also in almost daily meetings and strategic sessions with relevant security and law enforcement agencies work to find a lasting and enduring solution to this issues,” he added.

    In his sermon, Bishop of Jos Diocese Anglican Communion, Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, who represented Primate Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Oko, noted that the Armed Forces remained the only institution of hope of Nigerians.

    According to him, the Nigerian military personnel laid down their lives against the Boko Haram terrorists, against Fulani herdsmen, against kidnappers, against men and perhaps women who do not wish the country well.

    He urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for peace, unity and progress of the country, he regretted that many of the nation’s military personnel have died in line of duties in their commitment to keep the nation peaceful and safe for the citizenry.

  • Osinbajo: Govt’s burden is to defend territorial integrity, rights

    Osinbajo: Govt’s burden is to defend territorial integrity, rights

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reiterated the government’s responsibility, through the armed forces, to defend the territorial integrity of the country.

    In his remarks at the 2018 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Service in Abuja, Osinbajo also said the government had the burden to defend the peoples’ rights of existence, religion and other human rights.

    He, however, noted that some of the rights had in recent times, been challenged by the criminal group Boko Haram, which had killed and maimed innocent people including women and children.

    According to him, the Armed Forces of the country have lost personnel in various battles to keep the country together, leaving behind widows and children who the populace should cater for.

    The Vice President noted that the country had experienced various attacks and killings in various communities and noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the security agencies to deal with those involved.

    He said that the tension in the country was further fueled by the politicisation of many issues and cautioned that politics should not be allowed to add to the existing problems of the country.

    “We (government) have sworn to defend the poor and the helpless; the Armed Forces represent the bastion of the country’s unity.

    “Our nation today stands as one to honour the fallen heroes,’’ Osinbajo declared.

    The Vice President added that as Christians, those who attended the service should live according to the demands of their faith to preach the gospel of Christ not only in words but in action.

    According to him, the gospel preaches sacrifice, repaying evil with good, avoiding vengeance and also reminds the faithful that no battle is theirs and that vengeance belongs to God.

    “We have to preach the gospel of self-sacrifice that has changed the world, the sacrificial love that the Lord has shown by shedding His blood to save humanity,’’ Osinbajo stated.

    The Vice President prayed that the bloodletting in the country should cease and predicted that the country will thrive economically.

    “We must work together as Nigerians to build a prosperous and united nation,’’ he said.

    In a sermon, an Anglican Archbishop of the Jos Province, The Most Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, noted that the service was more important for civilians than members of the armed forces, expressing the need for more civilians to attend such service.

    The cleric stated that the Armed Forces remained “the one institution of hope for Nigerians.

    “They are serving and laying their lives against Boko Haram, marauding herdsmen and men who have not wished this country well’’.

    The Archbishop noted that a lot of innocent blood had been shed in the country and expressed worry that in spite of the killings, nothing serious was done to apprehend the killers and prosecute them.

    “When I look at people killed, I wonder how leaders sleep,’’ he said, adding that in Jos he had conducted more funeral services than weddings.

    Kwashi highlighted the important role of the military in national unity but expressed dismay that many of the members retired to beg for means of livelihood.

    “The institution of Armed Forces still gives us hope and I pray that those who look after their pensions will do so in the name of God,’’ he said.

    He added that even if there should be restructuring in the country, the nation must be kept together.

    The clergyman said that Jesus served humanity by doing good to the people, providing their needs and solving problems.

    Accordingly, he said the country needed those who can sacrifice for the next generation by denying themselves of comfort.

    He advised the people and those in authority to urgently address the plight of the poor as well as for the National Assembly to appropriate enough resources to cater to the needs of the people who make sacrifices for the country’s unity.

    Kwashi said that the country was tired of problems and needed sacrifices at the moment.

    “You have no business to seek to rule the country in any capacity if you cannot find solutions to problems of the people,’’ he contended.

    The service was attended by serving and retired government functionaries, members of the armed forces, Nigerian Legion, para-military, ministers, members of the national assembly and the diplomatic corps.(NAN)

  • Decent living in journalism is difficult, says Osinbajo

    Decent living in journalism is difficult, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that journalists living a decent life in the country is almost impossible with the present poor remuneration.

    According to him, the private sector in the country does not respect the national minimum wage.

    He spoke during an end-of-year seminar of the State House Press Corps with the theme: ‘Journalists and Retirement Plans’ at the old Banquet Hall, Abuja.

    The Vice President noted that remunerations were generally poor in the country, including his own and that of the President.

    He said that he earns about N1.5m as Vice-President, while President Muhammadu Buhari earns about N1.75 million, which he said was not commensurate with the offices they occupy.

    According to him, the case of journalists was unique because many media owners are making the revenues but simply refuse to pay journalists better as and when due.

    He recalled his brief encounters working with media houses as legal adviser, and how in all the months he worked; he was not paid despite the irregular hours he put in.

    Osinbajo noted that the private sector, which hosts many media organisations, does not adhere to the country’s minimum wage, which is currently N18, 000 per month.

    He also said that entry into journalism is not rigorously regulated or enforced by professional bodies as even untrained persons are allowed in.

    He however, absolved the journalism on its own, saying that it is not exactly the fault of the profession but the way the reality of modern trends and invasion of social media has made it be.

    He said, “I realized first of all that this is not a profession from which one could make a decent living in the first place unless you find a really good way of doing so.

    “But more importantly for me was the fact that you are just on your own. Journalism as a profession is so wide open

    “There are a few reasons in my view why remuneration is poor and why those in the media especially those who are formally engaged, I will show you that it is not your profession and why that is the case.

    “The first is that it is just simply cheating.  There are owners of media that are just cheats. They just want to get something from nothing and that is not uncommon, it is a general malaise, it is not necessarily restricted to the media.

    “It is also the same in the legal profession. There many lawyers if they tell you what they earn, you will certainly not want to be a lawyer.

    “The private sector does not respect the minimum wage. Even if a minimum wage is set nationally it is not necessarily respected by the private sector and this is something that should be factored in to the status of a company and whether a company is even complying with the requirements.

    “In other places these are points which are checked when you are being considered for task, whether you are meeting your task or not. That is not the case here, so we need to enforce that.

    “We need to enforce some kind of adherence to the minimum wage structure. Not just the minimum wage of the lowest paid person, but minimum wages across the board especially so that there is certain amount of regulation of how people are paid and how they are paid.

    “Entry into journalism is not vigorously enforced.  Most professions are able to pay better because there is entry requirements that are rigorously enforced, Perhaps not the case in journalism and for good reason.

    “There are those who are formally trained as journalists but the profession will admit anybody at all even if you are not formally trained as a journalist and that is even becoming more so now with social media platforms, with blogs.”

    According to him, market forces also often determine the revenue of media houses and the pay that journalists attract for themselves.

    He therefore charged journalists to brighten their prospects and future by always seeking ways of improving themselves and getting better job opportunities with attendant improved income.

    He said it was inevitable that when one improves to be good or better at something, he attracts better pay; and this applies to journalists and even media outfits as better performance by newspapers and broadcast stations attracts more endorsements and adverts.

    Osinbajo touched on the role of professional associations guiding journalists, and lamented that they do not adequately engage media organisations that don’t pay their workers or journalists enough or not at all.

    Chairman of the occasion and governor of Nasarawa state, Tanko al-Makura, represented by the state Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Kwara, said a good retirement plan starts the day one is employed.

    He said: “On the whole, it is important to note that a good retirement plan starts the very day you are employed knowing that whatever has a beginning has an end. 35 or 60 mandatory years of service are certainly not eternity.

    “It must also be stressed here that it is not too late to plan even where you have just few years to retire from service.

    “The most important thing is that you have a plan either of money saved or of the job you intend to carry after on retirement. Put every other factor in place such as your age, strength and the mental capacity to carry on.” he said

    He added “It is important to state, therefore, that the uncertainty on payment of entitlements has continued to worry Nigerian workers, making them fear retirement.

    “This has led to prospective retirees falsifying their age just to enable them stay put in the Service.

    “In this regard, a lot of corruption induced activities have continued to infiltrate the MDAs and the organized private sector responsible for managing pension.” he said

    He listed ten top ways to prepare for retirement including start saving, know your retirement needs; contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan.

    Others, according to him, are learn about your employer’s pension plan, consider basic investment principles, don’t touch your retirement savings, ask your employer to start a plan, think of creative ways to be self-sustaining, find out about your social security benefits, and ask questions.

    The guest lecturer and Chairman of Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu said retirement should not be synonymous with being tired or giving up as it should be a stepping stone.

    He advised working journalists to pursue their purposes with passion, stressing the need to increase capacity in readiness for the next phase

    He said, “Entrepreneurship is not a function of age.  Set your milestones and work towards accomplishing the milestone.

    “Entrepreneurs are resilients, they persevere to succeed. You don’t need to give up easily, it requires sacrifice, discipline”

    Others who presented goodwill messages were Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President, Femi Adesina.

  • Abiara celebrates 75th birthday in style

    Abiara celebrates 75th birthday in style

    The General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara, turned 75 over the weekend.

    It was a gathering of Who’s Who in religious circles as men of God from all over the country converged on the popular CAC Agbala-Itura for a thanksgiving service to mark the popular prophet’s new age.

    On hand to celebrate with the popular man of God was Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Also in attendance was the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among other prominent workers in the Lord’s vineyard who added colour to the occasion.

    Not left out were prominent South-West politicians, including the first lady and the deputy governor of Oyo State.

  • ‘How to cash in on Aba’

    ‘How to cash in on Aba’

    Churning out good products, as Aba entrepreneurs do, is fine but there are clear-cut ways to make good money from those products, especially if you are an exporter

    ‘Various speakers at the event said Abia State, owners of SMEs and freight operators would make more money, create job opportunities and improve the economies of Southeast states and the country’s economy if there would be favourable government policies that would protect local industry’

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s rhetoric and local content policy may have changed the story of Aba, Abia State’s city of commerce and enterprise. The city’s enterprise is well known, but the entrepreneurs have not always profited from that fame. Their products are not well packaged, and are sometimes dismissed as substandard. That is partly because the producers have little cash to boost their businesses, and also because Nigerians are fixated on everything foreign.

    Taking office in 2015, and with a drained, import-dependent  economy to manage, President Buhari stressed that the only way to recovery is Nigerians producing what they use. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has visited Aba to sink the message in and to stimulate local content growth. The state governor Okezie Ikpeazu has also worked hard to create the Aba brand, taking it with him everywhere he goes, tapping up investors. Their efforts are yielding fruit. Investors have started coming, and gradually the brand is shaping up. But there is more work to be done, said the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in the Southeast. You have to make the product make more money.

    The NSC, which now has an office in Aba in anticipation of the increased volume of trade, organised a seminar for Small, and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs (SMEs) and stakeholders in shipping and freighting to educate them on how to profit from made-in-Aba products.

    Various speakers at the event were of the view that the state government, owners of SMEs and freight operators would make more money, create job opportunities and improve the economy of southeast states and the country’s economy at large if there would be favourable government policies that would protect the interest of the local industry.

    The participants at the event commended the NSC for such a laudable step towards equipping them with the right knowledge on the do’s and don’ts of exportation in order to prevent their products from being rejected for not meeting international standard.

    The participants, especially importers of raw materials and other products, also raised concerns over the deplorable state of roads in the Southeast, activities of the Nigerian Customs, poor supply of electricity in the region and Aba in particular. They also called for the construction of railway lines linking Aba to other parts of the country and for the federal government to provide technical assistance and market connections to entrepreneurs through the shippers and exports promotion councils.

    They also urged the NSC to mount pressure on major stakeholders to ensure that the Ntigha Isiala Ngwa Dry Port takes off for ease of doing business and reducing cost of moving goods within the southeast region and beyond.

    The stakeholders who lauded NSC over their roles in enhancing shipping business and protecting the SMEs, also called for a common facility centre (CFC) in Aba zone to support whatever they have been doing in order to promote the exportation of made-in-Aba goods.

    In her address, the Southeast Zonal Coordinator of NSC, Mrs. Ify Okolue said that the importance of the seminar cannot be overemphasized especially at a time when the federal government and most state governments were championing alternative sources of income.

    Okolue said that the kickoff of the Ntigha Dry Port remains a priority for government agency and stated that the multiplier effect of the dry port would touch on the facets of the state economy and that of the entire Southeast.

    She reassured the stakeholders of the agency’s commitment to ensuring that they do their business seamlessly.

    She said that the essence of the seminar which, according to her, would be regular, was part of the agency’s commitment towards ensuring that potential exporters have the necessary information about importation and exportation of finished and unfinished goods from Nigeria to other parts of the world. She added that a well-informed producer or manufacturer won’t have his or her goods turned back in terms of meeting the standard of exporting goods at the global scene.

    The Executive Secretary/CEO Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello said that the seminar was historic as it was expected to bring to limelight the industrial ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Aba man and woman as the federal government continues in its initiatives in the promotion of non-oil export potentials of the nation’s economy.

    He said, “Gone are the days when people derogatorily spoke about locally made goods of which the Aba business community has pioneered and driven over the years even without any encouragement. I want to place on record that if you were able to achieve some level of success in the sector when there was little or no support from the government, you have every reason to record much more success now that the government of the day is on your side.”

     

  • Osinbajo inaugurates Nutrition Council

    Osinbajo inaugurates Nutrition Council

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday inaugurated the National Council on Nutrition at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    He also charged state governors to domesticate the policy in their states.

    The Vice President recalled that the Council was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February following the convening of the first Presidential Stakeholders’ Forum on the Child Nutrition Situation in Nigeria.

    The Nutrition Council, he said, was expected to spearhead and oversee interventions to address Nigeria’s nutritional challenges.

    He said “The policy, if fully implemented, will ensure significant improvements in several specific national indices, including the reduction of stunting in under-5 children, reduction of wasting in children, reduction of anaemia in pregnant women, reduction in adult obesity rates, and an increase in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding.”

    “The National Council on Nutrition has its work cut out, in implementation, collaboration, and communication. We bear the burden of very high expectations – Nigeria must make speedy and visible progress in its fight against hunger, malnutrition and other nutritional challenges.

    “As part of this we must ensure that the new National Food and Nutrition Policy is quickly domesticated at State level in every State of the Federation and the FCT.

    “Let me reiterate that the work of this Council is an important one. Our success or failure will make a huge difference in how quickly Nigeria is able to achieve not only the Sustainable Development Goals, but also our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.” he added

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulazeez Yari, after the meeting lamented that Nigeria was being rated behind India among the countries with worst malnutrition records.

    Yari said “The council is about all stakeholders working together so that we can get out of this trouble.

    “I’m here to represent the governors and I suggested to Mr. VP the need to bring governors on board in other to show them the position we are in so that we can work together. But we cannot do this without the resources that us the bottomless.

    “The issue of malnutrition has also to do with poverty and we need to put more resources even though government alone cannot do it.

    “But still government can be the driving force so that any other person coming to support either the development partners or the private sector will the impact of what government is doing and then we can join hands to work together.” he said

    Asked whether the government was planning to declare an emergency on malnutrition, Yari said they would strategize and brainstorm on how to tackle the challenge in collaboration with development partners.

  • Buhari commiserates with Iranians, Iraqis over earthquake

    Buhari commiserates with Iranians, Iraqis over earthquake

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders to commiserate with President Hassan Rouhani and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the devastating earthquake which struck the western province of Kermanshah recently.

    The earthquake caused the death of hundreds and injury to thousands.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also described the natural disaster and its fallout as “very unfortunate, sad and massive,”

    He said that the “thoughts and hearts of Nigerians are with the people of Iran at this trying period.”

    The Nigerian leader prayed that God will console the grieving families and wished the injured speedy recovery.

    President Buhari also expressed similar condolences to the government and people of Iraq over human and material losses suffered in the wake of the earthquake on their border with Iran.

    It will be recalled that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, had on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 while declaring open the 6th D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation with Member Countries in Abuja, on behalf of President Buhari, expressed condolences to the government and people of Iran on the disaster caused by the earthquake.

  • Osinbajo, INEC Chairman meet in Aso Rock 

    Osinbajo, INEC Chairman meet in Aso Rock 

    …Anambra poll: Yakub avoids journalists
    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met behind closed door with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakub, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    It was not clear whether discussions at the meeting only bordered on the Saturday governorship election in Anambra.
    At the end of the meeting, efforts to speak with Yakub on the updates of the Saturday governorship election in Anambra failed.
    He refused to meet with journalists as he waited for the area to be cleared of journalists before finding his way out of the Vice President’s office.
  • FEC approves N27.233 billion Gombe-Biu road 

    FEC approves N27.233 billion Gombe-Biu road 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved N27.233 billion for the construction of the Gombe-Biu road.

    The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola disclosed this to State House reporters at the end of the FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma.

    According to Fashola, the road will support access to agricultural facilities, power plant and boost personnel movement.

    He however disclosed that the approval did not include the 9 kilometer part of the road already constructed by the state government.

    He said “We presented two documents, one was a Memorandum that required council approval and the other was a note to inform council. They are important because they follow closely and inter- relate with the economy and recovery plan. The first which was a memo was a  contract of the Gombe – Biu Road that connects Gombe State to Borno and also leads to Adamawa and Yobe. The contract was for N 27.23bn for a 117km.

    “The entire road excludes the 9km that had been constructed by the Gombe State government. The strategic importance of the road is undeniable; it supports agriculture, access to our power plants – Dadin Kowa hydro power plants. It also helps security logistics to move personnel and troops to respond to distress calls.

    “It also going to be critical in the resettlement of IDPS. It’s part of the North East Development plan so it ticks all the boxes in terms of development and so on and also as far as budget implementation is concerned, this is one further step in that direction.”

    He said that the other matter has to do with investment in people, security of lives and property, which is the revised Nigeria national  building code.

    He said “This code is 8 years behind its scheduled date and the first code   was delivered in 2006 and it was revised in 2009 and since then it was stalled. Needless to say we have completed and approved the new code at the National Council of housing which the Ministry of power posted in August this year. It is national binding already and just to inform council.

    “The information that is critical is that it first adopts international building code  standards and it also seeks to improve fire protection systems   in buildings, public and private and In this time of harmattan, dry weather, this is the appropriate time to revise this kind of standards and hope that they can quickly kick in and people benefit from them  and we save lives and property.

     

    “It also introduces the energy efficiency and green building methods into our national standards. Recall that the ministry had launched an energy efficiency building code earlier in the year and that has been incorporated as a national building code to ensure that people build more in compliance to global standard.

    “You can position your building in such a way that people use more daylight, conserve energy, install fire heating systems that conserve energy. All of those are details that are aligned in the new Nigeria National building code. More importantly I will like to speak on the provisions that has been made in responding to the needs of people with disabilities, that’s  a very important position in the code now.

    “Provision of hand grills in toilets and washrooms, hand rails in ramps, lifts and ramps in public buildings to do some electro fitting as we go on.provisions that specify the gradients of ramps  and some of the attempts to respond to this are too steep or sharp, responds to the needs of people living  with disabilities so this code also responds to that.”

    According to him, the standard and quality of equipment used in building have also been reviewed.

    “Because when the  Green…tower fire happened in London, we were in the period of finalising this code and that was part of the things we considered ,what lessons we could  learn from their experience where a high rise building suddenly burnt quickly before fire service could respond.

    “In that case we have modified and restricted some of this equipment and materials that can now be used in building in Nigeria in the hope that it will save lives and property.” he said

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning said that FEC approved N458 million for consultancy services on the review of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    He said “Today  the federal executive council approved a memorandum that was brought by the Ministry of budget and National Planning to retain some consultants to help us to conduct some pilot labs .

    “This is part of our implementation strategy for the economic recovery and growth plan and so we intend to conduct three labs- one in agriculture and transportation, one in power and gas and one in manufacturing and processing.

    “The key objectives of the labs are as follows. One to identify all relevant key stakeholders from the public and private sector that are crucial in the  delivery and implementation of the ERGP initiative so as to create ownership early on  in the development process.

    “We will review and re-evaluate the ERGP and sectoral plans against set targets and progress and will include identifying gaps in the current eco system and the key success factors will further deliver detailed  three phase implementation programme line by line implementation activities.

    “We will identify entry point projects, we will identify key performance indicators, breaking down silos and encouraging  key players. Now the focus of the lab is to mobilise private sector investment to finance specific capital projects as you know public resources are limited so these labs will bring in private sector players.

    “We will look at the various areas including infrastructure, manufacturing and bring them in and mobilise private sector financing and resources for the labs.

    “So what council has approved today is that we bring in some consultants who did a similar thing in Malaysia to try to help us build our own capacity, they will just help us at the beginning and after that we will take over and do it ourselves.

    “The cost of retaining the Malaysian consultants will be N458m. It is going to cover about three months, the duration of the lab is expected to last a minimum of 13 weeks. It will cover three phases – pre- lab activities for four weeks, phase two conduction of the labs themselves 6 weeks and Phase three, post lab activities three weeks and you will have for each labs you will have at least a 100 people from a cross section of the public and private sectors so that is the structure of the lab.

    “So there will do the pilot one. Subsequent labs will not be them. They will help us; they will bring their international connections, reach and give it credibility. 500,000 dollars per lab.”