Technologist seeks government financial support for agro-allied tools fabricators

AgricultureJoseph Ujwa, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joetech International, an Agro-Allied Tools Fabrication outfit, on Thursday called on government at all levels to support local tools fabricators.

Ujwa said in Lagos that local fabricators of agro-processing tools were being hampered by lack of funds.

He said that with government’s attention turning toward agriculture, local fabricators would play an important role in mechanising agriculture.

“It is good that the Federal government is focusing on agriculture to broaden the nation’s revenue base. But concerted effort ought to be made to turn the government’s policy statements into tangible reality. With support from government, technologists like me will be able to produce tools like rice processing machines that can help government in implementing its policy on rice. We have fabricators that can manufacture tools like rice winnowing machines that can aid local production of the grain,’’ Ujwa said.

The technologist added that for the country to make inroad in the real sector, its citizens needed to be empowered to optimally contribute to its growth.

“As technology students, we were trained to meet the middle-level manpower needs in the system, especially as it concerns tools fabrication. But lack of funds has been the undoing of many of us who have received technical training,’’ he said.

Ujwa noted that before now the country’s agriculture sector had been largely subsistence, adding that now that attention was shifting toward diversification of the economy, core processing machines should be developed.

Akwa Ibom election: Tribunal orders re-run in 18 local councils

Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ordered a re-run in 18 local government areas of the state.

Giving its verdict on Wednesday, the Tribunal said it was satisfied that there were discrepancies during the governorship election held on April 11, and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the re-run elections. No date has been fixed for the election re-run.

There are 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State.

After the April 11 election, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Udom Emmanuel was declared the winner by the INEC.

Emmanuel polled a total of 996,071 votes, ahead of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress’ Umana Okon Umana, who got 89 865.

5 rescued as 3-storey building collapses in Lagos

JOSHUA BASSEY

Five persons on Wednesday escaped death by the whiskers, as a three-storey building collapsed in Lagos, where building collapse has become a recurring decimal.

The building located at Swamp Street in Lagos Island caved in yesterday morning with some of the residents who were still in bed trapped under the rubble.

Razaq Fadipe, the director of Lagos State Fire and Safety Services, confirmed to BusinessDay at the time of filing this report that five persons including an octogenarian, who was still in bed when the building collapsed, had been rescued alive.

According to Fadipe, the octogenarian who sustained serious injury was rushed to the General Hospital, Lagos Island, where she was treated, and her condition as of 5:25pm yesterday was stable.

Sola Adeigbe, general manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), told newsmen at the scene of the incident that the collapsed building had been served notice to undergo a non-destructive integrity test.

According to Adeigbe, the test was to ascertain the structural stability of the building in order to know if it could be renovated or re-engineered.

Giving further details about the incident, Bamidele Onimode, the South-West zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said it happened at about 9am.

“We got a call from the emergency operation centre about 9am and a rescue team was immediately mobilised to the scene. We have been able to rescue four occupants, and they have been taken to the clinic for further treatment. The combined team of NEMA, LASEMA and the construction company are trying to get the rubble together and be sure no one is trapped under,’’ Onimode said.

Michael Akindele, general manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), at the scene, said the rescue was prompt due to effective activation of all emergency agencies to the scene.

Buhari appoints Oyo-Ita as acting head of service

Elizabeth Archibong

​President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, as acting head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from Wednesday, October 21, 2015.

Oyo-Ita, who until her appointment was the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, is from Odukpani Local Government, Cross River State.

A statement by the director of press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Bolaji Adebiyi, said the appointment was “a testimony of Mr. President’s implicit confidence and trust” in her ability to discharge the responsibilities of the office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The former Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, who was due for retirement in December, proceeded on his pre-retirement leave on Tuesday.

 

VC tasks FG on establishment of specialised bank, decries poor funding of education

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

Apparently disturbed by the abysmally poor funding of education at every level in Nigeria, a university don has decried exclusion of private universities from accessing intervention fund appropriated for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and meant for development of tertiary education.

Isaac Adeyemi, vice-chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Otta Ogun State, said poor funding of the education sector by all the stakeholders, particularly Federal Government, was responsible for falling standard of education and loss of people’s confidence in the country’s education system, leading to rising capital flights on education to neighbouring countries, annually.

Speaking at a press conference, heralding the Bells ‎University seventh convocation in Otta on Wednesday, Adeyemi said exclusion of the private universities from accessing the intervention fund was as a result of TETFUND laws, which do not include privately owned universities, adding that unless the laws were reviewed, privately-owned universities might not have access to TETFUND.

While speaking on the benefits of adequate funding and extension of the intervention fund to private universities ‎in the country, the vice-chancellor said the poor funding and other challenges bedevilling Nigerian education sector, required establishment of specialised bank for special funding of the sector, adding that the Federal Government should work out possibilities and modalities for the specialised bank on education.

He disclosed that majority of private universities rely on commercial banks for funding which is very expensive since they give loans at two-digit interest rate and this impedes growth of tertiary education, saying the establishment of Education bank would hasten development in education sector as loans would be granted to privately owned institutions at a single-digit rate and purposely for education.

He said: “At times, proprietors of private universities ‎do get loans from banks at two-digit interest rate and what we need is single-digit interest rate to develop the education sector. That is why we need Education bank. Nigeria is losing several billions of dollars to other West African tertiary institutions. If government can assist education sector, we will reduce capital flights to other countries of the world, on education.”

Crew revive collapsed passenger on board Air Peace

Sade Williams

Tragedy was averted on board an Air Peace flight on Wednesday, when a passenger on board one of the airline’s flights collapsed.

BusinessDay gathered that trouble started when a male passenger who was on board the airline flight 140, which took off 13.00 from Lagos and was heading towards Abuja, collapsed 10 minutes into the flight.

The crew of the airline who were already trained to handle such emergencies were said to have used the medical equipment on board, including the oxygen on board to bring him back to life.

Coincidentally, a medical personnel who was on board same flight was said to have interrogated the sick passenger on his state of health during when he confessed that he had not eaten for two days, which suggested that he must have suffered dehydration.

Following the development, the pilot of the plane was said to have made an emergency call to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at Abuja airport requesting for an ambulance on ground.

Unfortunately, on landing at Abuja, the ambulance provided by FAAN officials at Abuja did not have oxygen for the sick passenger but the airline had to release its own two oxygen for the use of the sick passenger who was taken to the hospital.

Confirming the incident, the chief operating officer of Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, said “Air Peace as an airline does not joke with safety issues on board.”

According to her, having such safety components on board is a safety standard the airline can never joke with as all their crew have received adequate training as soon as they are employed.

Respite underway for motorists as Lagos declares zero tolerance on potholes

CHUKA UROKO

As a demonstration of concern for the harrowing experiences that motorists go through on Lagos roads, the state’s new commissioner for works and infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, has declared zero tolerance on portholes on all roads in the state.

Johnson, who was sworn in as commissioner just a couple of days ago, has hit the ground running by setting up a taskforce that would carry out the job of patching the portholes many of which have graduated into craters and ditches, making driving a herculean task in the state.

At a meeting with the management staff of the ministry and its sister agencies, Johnson announced the constitution of 40 gangs to prosecute the maintenance and patching of roads with a mandate to drastically improve commuters’ experience, directing that all the engineers in the ministry should participate in the exercise which targets all parts of the state.

A statement from the ministry signed by Fagunwa Abiola, deputy director, press and public relations, says that, apart from attacking potholes, the gangs would also work on rehabilitation of collapsed drains and desilting of drainage channels where necessary,  adding that the state of the roads represents a challenge that the Ambode administration was committed to confronting.

He stated further that the exercise would commence soon and would end only when the roads were stabilized, noting that weather condition played a significant role in destroying roads in the state.

The commissioner observed that consistent management and better attitude towards the gangs by citizens would see the roads improve significantly, adding that redeployment of the engineers would also provide them hands-on experience and allow them the opportunity of honing their skills.

Johnson hoped that the exercise would not impinge on the programme of the Public Works Department (PWC) but rather assist in the realisation of their goals and objectives.

Reps suspend legislative activities, adjourn plenary

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja

Legislative activities of the House of Representatives suffered major setback as Speaker Yakubu Dogara suspended plenary session till Thursday (today).

Dogara, who presided over the short session, which lasted about 15 minutes, however explained that plenary was adjourned because he had to attend the Council of States meeting.

Dogara, who noted that the deputy speaker, Lasun Yussuff, was also away on national assignment, thereafter, adjourned after the first reading of seven bills.

The bills read by the Clerk are Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Bill, 2015 (HB.50), Public Officers Protection Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB.54).

Others are National Agency for Training and Regulation of Vocational Trades (Establishment) Bill, 2015 (HB.55), National Youth Service Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 80), National Youth Service Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 82).

Others include National Council for Elderly Persons (Establishment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 84), Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, 2015 (HB.86).

While speaking on the resolution of the House, Yisa Orker-Jev (APC-Benue), chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Rules and Business said the Speaker has to attend the meeting in order to represent the legislature.

On his part, Bede Eke (PDP-Imo) said that the decision to adjourn plenary was done in national interest.

FIRST EDITION

New Customs boss wants officers in Kano/Jigawa command to embrace ‘zero corruption’ mantra

Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano

Customs operatives attached to the Kano and Jigawa command of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) have been charged to stay clear of corruption tendencies, such as illegal checkpoints and connivance with smugglers, or they will be shown the way out of the service.

They have also been challenged to key into the vision of the present leadership of the service that is structured on professionalism, honesty and ethical behaviour in the discharge of duty.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Hammed Ali, gave this charge on Wednesday, while addressing the officers and men attached to the Kano and Jigawa command of the service.

The CGC, who was represented by John Atte, deputy comptroller general of customs, told the personnel of the service to brace up to the posed by the new leadership of the service, which is geared at transforming it to the height of being one of the best in the world.

“I employ you not to be conformed to the old ways in which things are being done in the service, you must be transformed, and embrace change, or else you will be shown the way out of the service.

“You know some of the old ways that you have being doing things in the past I don`t need to remind you of that, and embrace the culture of professionalism, respect, and excellence.

“You don`t need to lobby for anything, particularly posting as it was being done in the past, when some of you have to come to Abuja to Lobby for posting to what is considered as juice areas, when you time come you, before you reach the 35 years of retirement you will be move d to all areas of the service” he stated.

DCG Atte revealed that the primary mandate given to the new leadership by Federal Government was for it to increase the revenue generation capacity of the service, through boosting collection of specified customs duties.

Also, addressing the members of the Kano Business Community, he cautioned them against encouraging men and officers of the command to embark on illegal activities.

“We are all aware of some of the illegal activities, such as smuggling which is associated with this area in the past; I want to make it clear that this new administration in Nigeria Customs Service will not allow this to continue.

‘You people as businessmen,  also have the duty to ensure that other criminal activities, like importation of gun, and bomb items are allowed to be brought into the country” he added

Speaking earlier, some members of the Kano Business Community commended the Federal Government over the appointment of the new leadership of the service, which they described as a positive development for the service.

They however, want the Federal Government to further reduce the levies, and duties collectable on rice importation, which they believe will help scale down the price of the commodity in the open market.

33m Nigerians risk contacting tropical diseases infection

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, ASABA

Bridget Okoeguale, director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, has raised an alarm that about 33 million Nigerians in 31 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are estimated to be at risk of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Okoeguale made the call when she led the officials of the ministry and the Carter Centre on an advocacy campaign visit on the Neglected Tropical Diseases to the permanent secretary, Delta State Ministry of Health in Asaba.

She listed the NTDs to include Onchocerciasis, which is known as river blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis also called elephantiasis.

While noting that they were in the state on advocacy visit on the elimination of the NTDs, she added that about 33 million Nigerians in 31 states and the FCT were estimated to be at risk of the disease.

“All ages are at risk of the diseases, especially people working in areas of fast flowing rivers. However less attention had been paid to the elimination of the diseases in the past years. NTDs are diseases that could be prevented if attention is given to them,” she said.

She also disclosed that Mectizan and Albendazolene tablets are being distributed for free of charge in the state pointing out that the essence of the free drugs was aimed at eliminating river blindness and elephantiasis before the end of 2015.

The director who appealed to the state government to key into the campaign on the elimination of the non-chronic diseases before the end of 2025 added that the Carter Centre was able to sponsor the visit to the state.

She however advised the government to ensure that the people of the state are educated on the danger of the diseases and encourage eligible persons to go for treatment in various health centres located in their local government areas.

Responding, Sunday Otobo, permanent secretary, Delta State Ministry of Health, assured the team that the state would work with the various council chairmen in the affected local government areas in ensuring that the diseases were given adequate attention.

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