ENVIRONMENT NEWS NIGERIA

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2012-06-26T09:02:00.001-07:00

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Hotels operations offends health law – FG

2011-07-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hotels operations offends health law – FG

Osadebamwen Patrick

Five star hotels across the country will be inspected regularly to ensure their compliance to sanitation standards expected in the hospitality industry, the federal ministry of environment has said.

The decision followed an indicting report Environmental Health Officers from the ministry of environment after visitation to hotels across the country.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Sambo Bashar gave this hint recently at the world sanitation day.

The report showed that hotels in the country use outdated facilities that undermines the health law of the country and could compromise the health status of guests.

According to him, “Environmental officers visited five stars hotels and found out that most of the facilities were worn out and the management runs the hotel below the standard required.”

He called on the National Assembly to support the ministry to strengthen the laws on environmental matters especially as it concerns sanitation which is critical for sustainable health condition.

Expanding its drive to rid the nation of poor sanitation habit especially in public places, Sambo said that both seaports and airports will be visited at sporadic interval for inspections as a measure to prevent spread of diseases internationally.

He regretted the continued poor sanitation habit that appeared to be growing among the population which negates sustainable environmental sanitation in Nigeria following sights of several refuse dump across the country and called for a better sanitation habit.

Sambo said the situation has become imperative as it has undermined eco-tourism thus affecting the federal government efforts at diversification of the economy.

According to him, “So far poor environmental sanitation is still a major problem in our urban centres and communities. Heaps of refuse have continued to assault our visual senses in many cities across the country. This poses a serious threat to tourism and thereby undermines the diversification of the economy which government is promoting.”

He maintained that sound environment measures must be taken to make the nation healthy and productive as the country combats the challenges of poverty and hunger, infant and maternal mortality .

The permanent secretary observed that Nigeria lags behind in its target to meet the Millennium Development Goal target for sustainable sanitation. Sambo said that the theme of this year’s commemoration “Cleanliness: Gateway to healthy living” further highlighted the importance of renewed effort for better sanitary condition.

According to him, the federal government through the ministry of environment has evolved a strategic approach of collaboration with stakeholders, civil society group and donor agencies to address the critical environmental challenges facing the nation.

Nigerian Wash Ambassador and former head of service, Engr. Ebele Okeke who was a guest speaker at the event said in spite of the global quest for improved sanitation spanning over a decade between 1981 to 1991 billion of people were still not served with most of whom are from the developing country like Nigeria.

The wash ambassador also stated that in the 1990s, Nigeria made a significant stride on sanitation which increased from 35% in 1990 to 40% in 2005 and further increased by 51% to 55% at the same period.

She said the access and progress rate are comparable to the average records in the Sub-Sahara Africa however Nigerian’s large population means that more people in the country are living without sanitation than in other part of the country.

Okeke called on the government to appropriate adequate funding to the sector and focus attention on promoting clean and healthy environment at various constituencies.

She pointed out that the present electoral enlightenment would soon lead to the political ambush by the electorate in the future when they would insist on sanitation programme from their legislators before electing them.

She lamented that status on the millennium Development Goal MDG was stalling the advancement o Africa in the same direction. “Our millennium Development Goals rating for sanitation, Nigeria is not on target. If Nigeria does not meet the millennium Development Goals, so will Africa not she lamented.

Preserving Future Generation Through The Environment

2010-06-21T09:05:00.001-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

World Environment Day has directed global attention on the preservation of bio-diversity which has proved to be of significant wealth for mankind. The attention resulted from the threat of extinction observed around the globe on bio-diversity from activities of constructions etc.

Amongst the endemic species are drill monkey and birds. They are among the hundreds of animals on the redlist of globally threatened species. Although they are not extinct but there is a serious concern for their exticntion if necessary actions are not taken by relevant authorities and stakeholders to avert this crisis which at the moment can be resolved through disciplined observance of environmentally friendly processes.

Many species of flora and fauna are today endangered. This informed this year’s theme for World Environment Day, WED, Celebration: “Many Spacies, One Planet, One Future. The theme does not only encapsulate the interest of the United Nations on the preservation of the biodiversity of the planet alone. It also stress the threatening habits of man in his environment leading to near or total extinction of some of the species of plants and animals.

Celebrating WED in Nigeria, the Minister of Environment John Ogar Odey, pointed to the issue of lost of biodiversity in the country. “We are faced with bio-diversity loss despite mounting efforts over the past 20 years” Odey said. Efforts have been geared towards pushing for public awareness on the need to preserve every existing specie of animals in the land as they hold a unique importance in the balance of nature and contribute to the rich bio-diversity asset base of the country and the world at large.

Already the country has been identified as global hotspot for its primate species of great diversity. This is owing to its unique geographical position in Africa and the variability in its climatic and geographical features which facilitated her endowment as one of the world’s richest bio-diversity on the continent. Cross River state reserves these assets for the country in the Gulf of Guinea which the country shares.

However, reports of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the global assets of bio-diverity have indicated high loss of important specie across the globe. Nigeria is inclusive on the list of country experiencing this dearth of some if its primate bio-diversity. Nigeria has 148 and 146 animals and plants respectively that are on the globally endangered list of thee (IUCN) amongst these 26 animals and 18 planta are classified as endangered.

Biodiversity also supports a number of natural ecosystem processes and services that benefit society like air quality climate both global and local CO2 sequestration), water purification, pollination, and prevention of erosion.

Autorities have said that there is continued global concern that the period since the emergence of humans is part of a mass reduction in biodiversity, the Holocene extinction, caused primarily by the impact humans are having on the environment, particularly the destruction of plant and animal habitats.

Odey believes that the challenge of poaching by local hunters for meat and other activities that negates the doctrine of environmental preservation can be conquered through adequate awareness amongst the people who are often victim of their own actions, though carried out ignorantly.

Experts noted that biodiversity is not distributed evenly on earth, but is consistently rich in the tropics and in specific localized regions. Nigeria enjoys this rare privilege of nature. It was this fact that made the minster to say that WED celebration in Nigeria was part of efforts to reduce the awareness gap amongs the Nigerian population and highlighting that the environment has its economic advantage. This is even more important as the resources are naturally richly entrusted to some places like Nigeria which place the onus on us to protect the local assets with world interests that stretches into our future.

“Protecting the environment is an economic policy which involve everyone, provides for all species and plan for our future. We are therfore on this occasion to create awareness and enhance the inclulcation of environmentally friendly habits and lifestyles in the populace so as to ensure that all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future,” Odey observed.

He noted that human actions in the areas of deforestation, habitat destructions over-haresting and pollution as well as other natural and man-made threats. While this ha form part of our cultivating habits it was important that we reverse them to suit environmental friendly manner. As a responsible country and signatory to various treaties on the conservation and preservation of the environment the country remains committed to these conventions.

Pursuance to this commitemet to a safer environment, conservation and sustainable utilization of bodiversity and natural resources, the federal governement has put in place a number of policies which include: National Erosion and Flood Control Policy; National Environmental Sanitation Policy and the National Forestry policy. The others are National Drought and Desertification Policy and National policy on E-waste Control and Management.

According to Odey, one major step which the government took in protecting our natural resources is the extensive Presidential reafforestation and afforestation programme. The project includes community based wood lots, control of fuel wood extraction from the reserves and the development of a more efficient wood stoves.

He said the afforestaton programme is a mitigation measure against the impact of climate change through Carbon sequestration. “The programme focuses on combating the problem of desertification, empowering rural communities economically and creating millions of green jobs among our youth.” This development also helps to conserve the biodiversity in these areas.

As the world celebrates the Many species in one planet to secure the future it is important that the drive for a more environmentally friendly practices be adopted for the benefit of all both in our time and the future.

Preserving Future Generation Through The Environment

2010-06-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

Waste Management FG Targets Satellite Town

2010-06-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

Gate-way towns and satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory and its environment have been identified as strategic component area to be included in the federal government initiative on clean and sustainable environment programme.

This was highlighted during the inauguration of the Committee on Clean up of some selected satellite towns around the Federal Capital Territory, by the Minister of Environment Mr. John Ogar Odey at Mabushi Abuja.

The Minister of Environment said the action was part of government commitment to ensure that the country is not only kept clean but to conform to global standards maintaining a sustainable environment in the country.

Odey who was represented by his permanent secretary Dr. Biodun Olorunfemi said like the environment, our towns and cities are central to the nation’s socio-economic and political activities adding that the town and cities require maximum attention in terms of environmental cleanliness and aesthetics as necessary ingredients to attracting foreign investors.

In his remark the, Dr. Olorunfemi stated that Nigeria cannot continue to call on foreign investors to invest in the country while it at the same time the country closes its eyes to the issues of environmental sanitation which goes a long way to enhance our image as a people who care for the environment.

Terms of reference for the committee in the short term includes immediate cleaning of the backlog of garbage around the FCT,; develop a strategy of continuous collection and disposal of waste and developing a sustainable funding mechanism as well as a strategy for Waste to wealth and waste to energy programmes to be integrated into the master plan of the satellite towns.

The committee would also concretize strategic plan of relevant state and local government areas as well as develop proposals for the federal government intervention in these areas.

While the medium term would focus on the federal government provision of equipment for the activities it would also look at a long term programme in the areas of private sector participation in clean-up and development of sustainable mechanism for waste generation and collection.

NESREA Shuts Glo Site

2010-06-21T04:45:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA has continued its onslaught on companies that have defied the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment on their various sites of operation with a view to enforce them.

The Agency decommissioned a telecommunication mast operated by Globacom within a residential area in OAU Quarters inMaitama, Abuja as the company’s mast site was being operated in contravention of environmental laws and regulations.

NESREA’s Deputy Director in charge of Inspection , Compliance and Monitoring, Mrs. Miranda Amachree said “following petitions from residents, an investigation was carried out by the Agency, which revealed that Globacom did not obtain the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate before the erection of the mast”.

In addition to non-compliance with environmental certification, Mrs. Amachree disclosed that tests carried out at the site showed that “the noise level was very high compared to what should be obtainable in a residential area”.

She said “the mast also violated the regulation on the distance between a telecommunication mast and a residential building, as well as the distance from the road.”

Director of Legal Services of NESREA, Barrister Bola Odugbesan told journalists that efforts were made to” hold dialogue with the operator of the illegal mast, but there was no response from Globacom”.

The Agency was compelled in the interest of the environment and public safety to the relevant laws on the mast site.

The Director also said there was no going back on the enforcement of environmental laws, adding that the Agency presently has four court cases in different parts of the country, while it has gone ahead to decommission many illegal masts .

According to Barrister Odugbesan, “ We will follow the law, we will apply the law, we will enforce the law!”.

Atiku Raises Alarm Over One Party State

2010-05-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

Former Nigerian Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that he fears that Nigeria would drift into one party state as politicians are not prepared to make the necessary sacrifices that would allow the emergence of a strong and viable opposition party.
Atiku who explained that he has reiterated the inability of Action Congress alone to provide the strong and viable opposition to the PDP said he realized that the interests in the formation of a viable opposition was truncated by the inability of others to genuinely sacrifice their interest for the country.
He explained that the institution of the Peoples Democratic Party was weak lacking the capacity to fight any form of manipulation by any sitting president who does not believe in the rule of law and desire to remain in office for a long time.
“I am scared of a dominant one party, I am so scared to my marrow. If you happen to get a person to be a President in that party and that person does not believe in vacating office, he will use the PDP that has majority in the NASS to amend the constitution to remain in power forever and he will get the PDP states house of representatives all over the federation to also carry out this amendment,” he pointed out.
Atiku maintained that the damage of such action could return the country to the dark era where dissenting voices were jailed, exiled or killed by those in power who seek to maintain the undemocratic practice.
“We will end up with a President for life and a one party state for life, only God knows what will happen to us. Many of us here who will not tolerate this action will go to exile or we will be in jail or killed am so scared of one party. The PDP is not like the ANC that has a 100 years history, a strong institution to checkmate these kinds of things. Ours, is a party that is just about 11 years and no strong institutions,” Turakin Adamawa stated.
It was against this background and the knowledge of the fact that there is no viable opposition party in country today that can provide a strong opposition to the party and clamour for the needed reform in the party that has made him retraced his steps back to join in rebuilding the old culture of internal democracy in the party.
Maintaining that reform was inevitable within the party, he said there has been call by various groups for improved changes in the party operations to reflect the aspiration of its members within the context of true internal democracy.
Assuring his supporters who gathered at the Hilton to show solidarity for his moves, Atiku said “I have every belief that it is not going to be business as usual in the PDP anymore, because the leaders are prepared for a reform, Party members are prepared for a reform, we are all reform minded in the PDP today. What we want to see is the PDP we created, established and co founded in 1998. Where there was internal democracy.”
Expatiating further on the issue, the former Vice president said the party earlier structure compelled members even those seeking election as ex-officio went round and campaign for support to be elected. Make no mistake about it this is the PDP we are going to bring back. We will bring it back” he emphasised.
Atiku who said his agenda in PDP was to be a strong loyal member who would promote reform and internal democracy and due process in the PDP pointed out that his frustration in the opposition was predicated on the unwillingness of other champions of the opposition party to make sacrifices.
On the strong opposition by the Adamawa state chapter of the party over his return, Turakin Adamawa said he was not aware of such claim as the party members insisted on their votes to count in the recently conducted by election and it turned out to be so.

FG TO RELEASE ADAPTATION POLICY

2010-04-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen
ABUJA: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION POLICY, Minister of Environment Mr. John Odey has said the federal Government would release its National adaptation strategy against climate change phenomenon.
The policy which would guide the nation on its adaptation programme to help the people cope with the challenge would place Nigeria ahead of other African countries who are still faced with the challenge in the area of developing a national strategy.
The minister said this during a courtesy call by the Charge de Affairs of the United State Embassy Mr. Dundas McCallough to his office.
Odey who said the strategy was developed between the ministry of environment and Nationa Air Space Management Agency, NAMA, sought further cooperation from the United States government to extend its eco toruist and forestry projects to Bauchi state.
Fielding questions from journalist on other areas of cooperation and assistance between both countries McCollough said The US was open to any cooperation of mutual benefits.

NIGERIA SET 2013 TARGET ON ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMMES

2010-04-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen
ABUJA: ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION Nigeria Vision 2020 Central Working Committee on Environment has said it planned programmes would begin to yield positive result from myriads of environment problems by the year 2013 even as it urged the ministry of environment to be alert to the impact of environmental degradation following its various manifestations across the country.
Professor Abubakar Mamman, chairman of the committee said the committee has identified some programmes and projects to drive the vision 2020 environment activities in the medium term set between 2010 – 2013.
Mamman said that some of the priority projects establishment like 1500km Green Wall Sahara project in the 11 frontline states of the north; 28 integrated waste facilities in selected cities across the country; development of regional reference laboratory as well as logistic for effective compliance monitoring and the establishment of clean development mechanism projects etc.
He also enumerated the targets set by the committee to ensure the restoration and of the Nigeria environment for sustainable social economic development through massive afforestation, increase in the country forest cover from the present 6 percent to 8 percent by 2013, reduction in population related health problem relatively. Environmental monitoring and enforcement and fully developed capacity to mitigate the effects of disasters as well as fully developed capacity for carbon trade.
Professor Chukwuma Asala another member of the committee emphasised the need for the ministry to be alert and effect immediate response to such complaints. This was necessary because of level of forest cover loss as well as soil erosion and flood damages which have had direct impact on the lives of the people.
Asala pointed out that the extent of environmental damage required billion of naira to address hence it was incumbent on the ministry to quickly respond to any report of environmental problem.
Responding to the committee’s call, Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey admitted that the environmental challenge before Nigeria was indeed huge but assured the committee of his commitment to respond to the needs of the environment through their professional inputs of the committee and the ministry staff.
He reminded the committee that the federal government has expressed its will to act on the side of Nigerians as the efforts so far has demonstrated the interest of government to deal with issue of environment adequately therey by advancing the aspiration of the vision 2020 team.

CPC CAUTION PUBLIC ON DEFECTIVE CAPRISONNE

2010-04-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen
Consumer Protection Council, has enjoined Nigerian consumers of packed juice to properly inspect sealed juice packs and ensure that all fruit juice packs are properly sealed before purchase and consumption.
In a release made available to summit the council said “This alert is informed by the discovery of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) that a particular batch of Caprisonne apple flavour in the market has seal defects.
The released, which was signed by the council’s Director General, Mrs. Ify Umenyi also counselled consumers of Caprisonne not to panic as “the defective batch of that juice is being withdrawn, while investigations are on-going to uncover the cause of the defect.
Caprisonne drinks have not been found to be sub-standard, except this defective batch which is being withdrawn. Consumer Protection Council, therefore, dissociates itself from a text message which is said to be in circulation, warning consumers against its consumption.”
The council also tasked members of the public to reach its office where it finds any of the Caprisonne believed to have defective packs so as to assist the council on its efforts to.

FG MAPS SHORELINES TO COMBAT OIL SPILL

2010-04-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwens
ABUJA: Minister of Environment, John Odey has assured that the federal government was committed to the implementation of the master plan for the development of the Niger Delta Region.
The minister gave this assurance at the presentation of the Environment Sensitivity Index, ESI, Mapping of the shorelines aimed at activating effective response to oil spill incidence in the country.
The ESI captured eight states of the shoreline extending from Lagos to Calaber including another 50 kilometers inward of the areas covered. Other states captured are Ondo, Edo, Delta Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom.
Odey said “the index mapping is essential to preserve and protect our fragile ecosystem from the impact of oil spillage”.

Promotion: Immigration bars HND Supritendents

2010-04-07T05:21:00.000-07:00

Patrick Osadebamwen

Higher National Diploma, HND, holders of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, in the supritendent cadre may have been permanently restricted to enjoy further promotion following ommision of their names from the list of newly promoted officers of the service after due participation in the last conducted interview exercise.
The promotion list posted on the notice board of the Immigration Service at its Airport road Head office in Abuja clearly showed that only university graduates of first degree holders among the rank of supritendent cadre were successful in the published promotion list with names of their HND counterpart conspicuosly ommited.
Although successful officers who have been decorated are elated over their personal promotion but expressed disappointment at the decision of the Comptroller General Chukwura Joseph Udeh on the alleged unilateral removal of the names of HND holders in the service.
It was learnt that before the sacking of the erstwhile cabinet, approval was secured for the promotion of officers and men of the Service in line with the Establishment rules. Following this, service personnel were invited for interview which took place in the third quarter of 2009 at the Civil Defence Immigration and Prisons Services Board, Gwagwalada.
Our sources said the examination and interview which lasted for 24 hours was conducted tagged operation show your certificate from all graduates of first degree and Higher National Diploma. Sources said graduates who underwent the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme were shortlisted and took the same interview and examination in the same hall.
Consequently, successful candidates were forwarded to the service leadership for publication. It was at this point that a twist was introduced by the Comptroller General Chukwura Joseph Udeh who allegedly ordered the removal of all HND graduates on the list.
Inside sources said that the meeting did not end without resistance from some officers in the meeting who faulted the decision demanding the wisdom behind the action. Meanwhile after omitting the names of the Higher Nationa Diploma officers other of equivalent rank: Principal Inspector of Immigration, PII, Chief Inspector of Immigration, CII, and Chief Supritendent of Immigration, CSI, who possessed NCE and Ordinary National Diploma were promoted.
Udeh’s failure to provide convincing reason strengthen resistance by an Assistant Comptroller in the meeting which led to a physical scuffle on the matter between the Comptroller General and the Assistant Comptroller of the service who was said to be openly opposed action.
The rules of the service had placed a limitation of promotion of HND graduates at level 14 with an option of conversion for progression to level 17 where such service personnel has acquired the higher qualification such as Masters degree or Phd.
Findings by our reporters revealed a deep dissatisfaction amongst the officers who were affected by this development, one of the affected officers quarried, “It is clear that we are not yet in that level, we are between level 10 and 13 if the bar is at level 14 as stipulated by the rules in the scheme of service why should we be handpicked and visited with this evil decision?
The development has been described as unfortunate and capable of dividing the officer cadre of the Nigerian Immigration service as it introduces complexes among its officers arising from the tertiary insitituion they have attended.
Another argued that the situation would introduce an era of hostile work environment for all officers of the service and would dampened the morale of affected officers many of whom said the situation stands against the spirit and letter of existing guidline approved by the National Council of Establishment.
Reacting on matter, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Ekpedeme King, said those flying this kite should reach out to the Civil Defence Immigration and Prisons Board for clearance as the Board is the only body with the mandate to deal with issues of promotion.
It would be recalled that the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration had lifted the bar on the limitation of a Polytechnic graduate of Higher National Diploma who were hitherto restricted to the height of level 14 in the service.
Sources in the service who volunteer information on the matter on ground of anonymity said the action by the comptroller general was misguided by his advisers and that it may consume him if he does not allow the rules that govern the service to moderate his actions at this critical time of his career.
A similar sitution was alleged to have rear its head while Gen. Godwin Abbey was the interior minister. Abbey it was learnt instructed the service to harmonised HND and degree officers together as such dichotomy was not considered in military circles.
Ekpede dismissed this position saying that if the former minister, Gen. Abbey made such remark it would have been a ministerial directive backed by a circular, adding that “I am not aware of such pronouncement by the former minister.”
Another officer said am not affected but this development can cause a divide amongst us and “How do you expect any sensible officer who was in the service years before some others came into the service accept becoming a surbodinate to his junior.”
It would be recalled that a two-day stakeholders forum on strategies for the implementationof government policy on parity between HND and first degree qualification held between June 15 and 16 2009, and published in the Federal civil Service Bulletin July-september 2009 issued a communique amongst which it stated that “ a government white paper on parity between HND and first degree qualification has already directed the removal of ceiling on the career progression of HND holders in the public service.

This report was published in the SUMMIT Newspapers April 3, 2010

ODEY HINGES DEVELOPMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

2010-04-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

Returned Minister of Environment, Mr. John Ogar Odey has expressed confidence in the calibre of staff of the ministry of environment where he has been reassigned to serve the country.
Odey, who resummed office immediately on his reassignment addressed members of Staff and called for continued cooperation and pledged his loyalty to Nigeria and the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan. He said no meaningful development can be attained without proper development of the environment and its sustainability.
“Let me pledge like I did before all Nigerians and the acting President this afternoon that I would do my best and also sincerely do my job.” He said. According to him, ‘from the charge the acting president gave us this afternoon, it is now for us to hit the ground and keep moving I must say that my own job is easier because I have come back to meet a better workforce,” he added.
Speaking further, Odey said he left the ship at the Environment Ministry steaming saying, “i have no doubt of the capabilities of the crop of officers and I must say that with the report and what I have seen the Environment ship is still sailing. It is therefore very important that this ship would require a greater steam than we earlier provided to keep sailing.”
The Honourable Minister also commended the staff of the ministry for the rousing welcome extended to him and told the staff that all their function as staff of the Federal Ministry was to service the interests of posterity. He encouraged them to ensure that they leave indelible footprint so that the future generation would identify them and improve on them.
Noting that being away has given him a wider horizon on the way and manner to approach some environmental issues, the Minister noted that no nation can attain meaningful development without proper attention to the needs of the environment, saying , “we must strive to achieve environmental sustainability and this cuts across all spheres of life like agriculture.”

Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

2010-04-07T04:58:00.000-07:00

Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Under Acting President Jonathan
Sworn in April 6th 2010

Ministers Ministry
Agriculture Prof. Shiekh ahmed Abdullah
Mr. Awodele Hajeem Adewale (State)
Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN
Education Prof. (Mrs.) Ruqayatu A. Rufai
FCT Sen. Bala Muhammed
Finance Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin
Mr. Aderemi W. Babalola (State)
Foreign Affairs Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia
Dr. Idi Hong (State)
Information & Communication Prof. Dora Akunyili
Mr. Labaran Maku (State)
Niger Delta Affairs Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe
Hon. Samuel Ode (State)
Petroleum Resources Mrs. Deizani Alison-Madueke
Defence Chief Adetokumbo Kayode
Murtala Shehu Yar’adua (State)
Planning Dr. Shamsudeen Usman
Works Sen. Sanusi Daggash
Chris Ogiemwonyi (State)
Aviation Mrs. Fidelis Njeze
Commerce and Industry Sen. Jibril Martins Kuye
Miss. Josephine Tapgun (State)
Culture and Tourism Abubakar Sadiq A. Mohammed
Environment Mr. John Ogar Odey
Health to be appointed
Alhaji Sule Bello (State)
Interior Emmanuel Iheanacho
Mr Humphrey Abah (State)
Labour & Productivity Mr. Chukwuemeka Wogu
Mines & Steel Devt. Musa Mohammed Sada
Power Nuhu Somo Wya (State)
Police Affairs Alh. Adamu Waziri
Science & Technology Prof. Mohammed K. Abubakar
Special Duties Navy Capt. Earnest Olubolade (rtd)
Transport Yusuf Suleiman
Youth Development Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi
Women Affairs Iyom Josephine Anenih (mni)
Sports Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio
Lands Housing &
Urban Development Hon. Nduese Essien

BADMINTON: VETERANS PREPARE FOR TOURNAMENT

2010-03-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

BADMINTON: VETERANS PREPARE FOR TOURNAMENT
KADUNA- Exclusive Badminton and NDA Badminton clubs Kaduna have begun a drive to make badminton popular amongst Nigerians through a tournament for its veterans in the state.
Usman A. Usman, national umpire and ex-player of the game said the planned “All Veteran Badminton Championship” slated for April 23 -25 in Kaduna would attract veterans from across the country who will be participating in the game and show another sporting activity with valuable opportunities for professional players in various categories.
Usman also stated that the decision to use veteran tournament as a platform to further elicit public interest towards the game was predicated on the fact that badminton can accommodate all ages for play both for liesure and competition thus its expanded opportunity to all and sundry.
According to him, “If you are aged you cannot play basket ball, volleyball or football, also, the challenges of playmates come as you would require between six or more persons to play but with badminton you and your wife or any other one person like a sister or brother suffice and a maximum of four for double play.”
He said badminton is one of the growing racket games that can easily be engaged by the aged for the fact that the racket used for playing the game is very light and handy to anyone thus making it attractive game for all ages.
The organizers of the championship are calling on all and sundry to support the game so as to popularize it among Nigerians of all ages and make them tap into the immense benefits the game provides individuals and teams.
As a measure to shorre up the game, it has contracted Savannah Media, a media solution outfit to publicize the pre tournament activities.

KADUNA SPENDS N.960BILLION ON WASTE MANAGEMENT

2009-11-13T02:43:00.000-08:00

Patrick Osadebamwen
Kaduna State Governor, Architect Namadi Sambo has said his administration expends N80 million in its efforts to rid the city of it generated waste.
Over 30 companies have been contracted by the state government for cleaning the city for which the sum of N80 million is expended monthly. The cumulative cost of cleaning the city on annual basis translates to N.960billion.
The govenor gave this hint in Abuja while commmending the federal government over its move to site some of its waste management projects in the state.
His words: “We have decided to outsource garbage collection and in Kaduna metropolis alone we have over 30 companies that are collecting garbage at the cost of over N80 million on monthly bases.
It was in view of this huge cost implication for cleaning the city that the state has expressed its readiness to partner with the Ministry of Environment on the establishment of three waste mangement projects.
Namadis sambo said the planned waste management projects would assist the state reduce the burden of this huge cost on waste management.
According to him “the garbage processing plant being supported by this minstry is going to save us this problem by bringing in a public private partnership in this direction such that the company would take that responsibility away by processing the waste to produce electricity, fertilizer and other important imputs while creating jobs.”
Namadi said the establishment of a metal procesessing plant in the state was apt as it was came at a time the state government was seeking ways to remove all accident vehicles and other forms of garbage form the environment.

KADUNA GOVERNMENT PROVIDES LAND FOR FG PROJECT

2009-11-13T02:39:00.000-08:00

Patrick Osadebamwen
Kaduna state government has promised to provide land to the federal government for the construction of the proposed Plastic processing plant in the state.
Governor Namadi Sambo said this when he paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Environment Mr. John Odey at his office in Abuja.
Sambo said his administration has mainstream environmental into his governance policy to the extent that a ministry for environment has been created.
He maintained that the states efforts to support the initiative of the federal government informed its decision to allocate the ministry of environment an area in the light industrial zone of the state for the construction of the plant
The governor expressed the gratitute of his state to the federal government for its choice of Kaduna state for the establishment of three projects which spiral effects would create employment for the skilled and unskilled youths in the state.
According to him the company will create important input into the state and create jobs for the people of the state”
Odey noted that the contracts for the processing plants have been awarded and commended the state government for its kind gestures for land provision.
He also called on the governor to make his state a center for awareness on the importance of the environment to the people as well as adequately inform and educate the people on the issues of climate change and its effects on all spheres of human endeavour.
Odey said the federal government was quite elated by the briefs from the state governor on his reception of the three environmental projects in the state.
The three projects proposed by the federal government to be established in Kaduna state are: installation of metal scrap recycling plant; intergrated waste mangement scheme project which is on going and the plastic recycling plant.
It was gathered that the plastic recycling plant contract has been awarded while the MOU for the Integrated Waste Management Scheme is being fine-tuned.

JIGAWA SEEK FG ASSISTANCE ON ENVIRONMENT

2009-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Osadebamwen Patrick
Jigawa state government has said it would dedicate a substantial part of its 2010 budget to address the perenial problem of the environment in the state.
Governor Sule Lamido who said this in Abuja while soliciting the assistance of the federal government to complement its effort at addressing the environmental challenge in the state added that the environemnt “remains a very critical aspect of our lives.”
Lamido said Jigawa state suffers serious environmental problems comprising gully erosion, ravaging desert encroachment which has eaten up the vegetation and exposed the soil surface of the land to other harsh climatic elements which harms the natural species.
Governor Lamido also pointed out that the poorly developed planning of the Tiga Dam in Kano state has increased pressure on the Hadeja River with a consequence of flooding that resulted in annual destruction of houses sacking many home owners in Hadeja town.
He said: “We also have problems with Rivers that have not been properly controlled in terms of the planning arising from the Tiga Dam in Kano state. There is no certain control in terms of the way the water is being released and because of the pattern of its release it has this rampaging effect on a number of towns along the valley of Hadeja in Jigawa state.
“The effect is felt more especially in Hadeja town which is an important town in Jigawa state. If you go by the bank of the River and see the kind of hazards that it has created you will pity the people. Every year their houses are washed away and they carry out an annual ritual of rebuilding their houses and lives the flooding on the roads have also made them terrible.”
Lamido said his administration was interested in securing the Hadeja region from further degradation. This informed the need for the state to seek assistance for the federal government to intervene for remediation of the land.
He said that Jigawa state has already taken a bold step in the areas of afforestation with the planting of over 8million trees amongst which 5 million have survived to provide shield to the environment and help check the rampaging move of desertification.
His words: “I think our efforts in terms of tree planting in Jigawa state we have raised at least 10 million plants for our nursery in the last two years. We have planted eight million trees and about five million survived.”
The governor explained that these trees adorn the roads connecting villages and towns in the state offering a green environment.
Responding to the call of the governor, Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey has said the federal government has been working with the states staff and hope that the visit would give more impetus to the collaborative efforts of both
Odey commended the state for its tree planting efforts which is stratic to assuage the challenge of desertification as it compliments the presidential afforestation programme. He said the FG would continue to collaborate with the state and sought the governor’s willingness to become the driving force on promoting awareness on climate change in the frontline states in the north.

SOLVING THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGE

2009-11-03T06:02:00.000-08:00

SOLVING THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGE
Patrick Osadebamwen

Nigeria as a country has enormous reserve of human and natural resources. Nature, favours the country’s climatic condition and geography. Unfortuantely, the nation has been crippled by lack of focused leadership. The sixth world largest producer of oil is plagued by poverty. Inspite of her abundance, poverty has taken a strong grip of Nigeria’s population. Her men and women have employed various guise to beg on the streets of it capitals to make enough for food. It will be totally wrong to conclude that all these able bodied youths who besiege us daily on the streets for assistance are lazy. Some may be, but a significant number of them are not; they are frustrated law abiding members who wouldnot submit themselves to the abhorable act of crimes. They prefer to suffer the humiliation of being seen as begger than to be criminals.
The consequence of this situation is replete across the country with waves of violence that have dominated the landscape in recent times. Angry youth, who cannot withstand the pressure of lack in the midst of plenty have unleashed various degrees of violence on the nation as a means to draw the attention of government to the inherent deprivation which we all suffer. Militant acivities in the Niger Delta region rage, while religious fanaticism in the north takes a new turn rejecting western education. These actions have caused untold hardship to victims taken unawares in the imbroglio. For the angry youths it vents their level of frustrations suffered in the hands of the system that ordinarily would minister to their needs through job creation and other social welfare services. Many of those caught in between these fightings are innocent citizens, who bare the same brunt of the hardship but choose to be law abiding. Their offence at such unpredictable moment of unleashed aggression was that they were out on their respective legitimate business activities.
Experts and public commentators have connected the gamut of these problems to the impact of poverty and the consequence of hunger. One can easily be swayed to this line of argument. Hunger thrives in the land of plenty. Admittedly, Nigeria is not the only country with the challenge of poverty, as poverty is not peculiar to Nigeria. It occurs in many countries of the world. However, it must be noted that Nigeria’s earning from oil offers her citizenry great economic advantage. Yet, dearth dominates the struggle of the masses, whose wealth has been cornered by a privileged few atop the social ladder. This development bred an army of poor people, rightly or wrongly statistcally represented at 70 percent of the population. It makes her share a place in the world of the poorest of the poor nations. Concerns, over the need to cater for the needs of the poor population of the world dominated world summits and conferences in the 1990s.
Sequel to this, the world came together in September 2000 to combat the scorge of extreme poverty as part of the various faces of development challenge that faced the globe. Nigeria was among 147 countries of the world that signed the document that is generally refered to as the Millenium Development Goal, MDGs, to be achieved by 2015.
The eigtht line of action was led by the need to Eradicate Extreme Poverty and hunger. The others are to Achieve universal primary education; Promote gender equality and empower women; Improve maternal health; Reduce child mortality; Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Ensure environmental sustainability and Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
As popular as the MDGs has become in the lips of government officials, the effect is yet to be felt in the lives of Nigerians at the grassroot for whom global partnership was initiated by the United Nation. Five years ahead of the 2015 target for attainment of the target, Nigeria can still make an impact, if it focuses on the two critical sectors that would trigger successful achievement of the Goal one of the MDG with positive impact on the entire goals with significant impact on goals 2, 5, 6 and 7.
No one contest the importance of the power sector in a modern economy where Nigeria hopes to play an active role. Adequate power generation and stability would trigger the growth of many businesses that depend on power supply. Producers and manufactures would reduce their production cost especially those incured by hours of powering generators to have electicity to produce or manufacture their products. Labour for these various business outfits would be needed thus creating employment. Our streets would be free of social menace because idle minds and hands are tasked to work to earn a legitimate income and proudly earn a living.
With the power question being answered agriculture too should be developed along side power. While the nation is has electricity to power its factories agriculture would provide food and raw materials for the manufacturing sector of the economy. Excess food production which has characterized farm produce annually would attract business men to set up factories that would add value to the various farm produce that have been produced to waste due to excess production without processing machines to add value to them. Agriculture has proved to be the major source of raw materials for industrial production. The fact that agriculture does not require much skill like other fields it would easily absorbed the army of unskilled youths, who would readily find a place in this area. Commercial farming would service the various factories with raw materials for production and expand the employment opportunity for the youths.
The federal government would benefit from this development. Tax opporunity would expand when new factories are built to respond to various products and service demand in the economy. This will expand the tax revenue for the Federal Inland Revenue Service. More revenue would translate to more economic boom for the federal government to attend to social services, in the areas of health public utilities and Infrastructures. This may not be acheve in one swoop. All that is needed is some level of commitment from the leadership to commence the project. Any genuine execution of this plan would undoubtedly yield some visible results. It will show the path to development. Nigerians would be inspired by any such moves that points at tru development. There will be no need for media campaing for mobilisation to join hands on the new initiative of growth. The desire for development will originate a sense of patriotism which would move action. Nigeria subscribes to the content of the MDGs. What the people have read about the MDG and it planned target of 2015 may be unrealistic here in our clime. There seem a wide gap between media publicity and project design and implementation. At least am an unemployed adult seeking just enough to eat. This, demonstrate failure of my government to adequately address goal one of the MDG; eradication of extreme poverty. How difficult is it for the PDP and government of President Umaru Yar’adua to achieve this?

MINISTER LAMENTS GIRL-CHILD DISCRIMINATION

2009-11-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

MINISTER LAMENTS GIRL-CHILD DISCRIMINATION
Patrick Osadebamwen

Girl child has been described as the most vulnerable in the Nigerian society inspite of the various laws that seek to protect the children, including the girl child from all forms of discrimination.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Salamt suleiman who was represented by Mrs Christiana Oliko said this at a book launch in Abuja. She added that the vulnerability of the girl child was predicated on various discrimnatory practices from birth through childhood and adulthood.
She said that available statistics indicated that “male child preference syndrome, early marriage, poverty traditional, religious and cultural barriers have contributed to low female enrolment and high drop out rates for girls in Nigeria”
The ministers position was supported by the book entitled: “Promoting the Girl Child” as it blames women lack of proportional representation at the level of decision making in the country to illiteracy, financial constriants, domestic burden and men domination.
Mrs. Suleiman commended the Author Engr. Waheed Odetoro whonm she said directed his great talent at providing the Nigerians with educative and resource materials pointed out that the time was now for Nigerians to redouble their efforts to address the various challenges militating against the development of the girl child.
She noted that this was important if the country must meet the gender parity in education by the 2015 as well as attaining the Universal Basic Education target.
The author of the book, Engineer Waheed Odetoro said Promoting the Girl Child is a book intended to strenghten the girl child to have access to information and they should not keep quite over things tha affects them.
He said that the book adds a voice to the challenge of women and provide data on gender deprivation abuse, date-rape, family rape which he said was the most unfortunate situation where a daughter is abused by a family member.

GAINS OF DEMOLITION IN THE FCT

2009-11-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

GAINS OF DEMOLITION IN THE FCT
Patrick Osadebamwen

Prior to the appointment of the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the city which was patterned after the best cities of the world was dotted with unpleasant sights of uncompleted building. When he moved against these structural eyesore victims cried out, today the impact proves to be a good cleansing.

Asokoro and Maitama are undoubtedly the choicest parts of town in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The lure to these parts of town is premised on the availability of infrstructure that supports a befitting neighbourhood. Life in these areas reflects that of a people with appealing taste. It is obviously being sustained by their earnings. These highbrow areas are quiet and pleasing. A similitude of this reality extends to some parts of Wuse and Garki. Utako, another district also shares these attractions.
The beauty of these parts in the FCT was dotted with some bad spots. These spots resulted from the inability of their respective owners to complete their buildings for occupation. They constituted some issues: the manner in which they sprouted at various strategic parts to incompletion all over FCT defaced the aesthetics of the city. Also, it raised security concern to both the residents of these areas and the FCT administration.
Besides the spoilage of FCT’s aesthetics, it became a ready habitation that bred miscreants and other social misfits who found ready hideouts for themselves. Many of them took advantge of the situation and unleashed their vices on the immediate environment and its neigbouring areas. Thefts and prostitution thrived. Although there were other law abiding citizens whom the economy forced to take temporal refuge in this uncompleted buildings, before they could recover and relaunch themselves. The activites of these miscreants made their stay in these places intolerabe both to the residents and themselves.
This situation prevailed, Inspite of the problems these uncompleted building constituted to the residents, it was clear that successive administration lacked the will to correct the anomaly. At that point, it appeared the situation had come to stay all to the displeasure of residents whom at any excuse pointed accusing fingers to these illegal city-squartters as culprit of percieved or criminal activities in these areas.
Upon his appointment as the minister of the FCT administration Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, declared his mission was simply to restore the master plan. Although recent revelation on probes by the house of representative revealed some high handedness by the dimunitive-former-minister of the FCT, these parts of town which were littered with uncompleted buildings for whatever reasons were visited by the demolishing squad of the FCDA to correct the structural abnormality.
El-Rufai brought down all structures considered to be an illegal construction in the FCT. The same fate befell those that had been developed halfway and abandoned for a long time. These abandoned projects, owned by individuals and orgnisations provided alternative abode for displaced or homeless residents in the FCT. Since the demolition for which the erstwhile minister earned the sobriqunet “Mr. Demolition” that lasted during the exercise many residents of the FCT have admitted the painful exercise has yielded very positive impact in many areas of the city.
Although that administration remains guilty of not being able to deliver structural development in the FCT but maintained notoriety for demolishing structures that were deemed to have been in default of the master plan. The positive impacts of demolishing the various uncompleted structures are visible. “We see less of suspicious persons around here”, Achibong udoh a resident at the Minsters’, Hill area of Maitama district of FCT told the African Herald Express.
His view was upheld by Anita Komolafe who said “I have lived here for five years now. We do not see strange faces coming out of that (pointing to a large expanse of land at the Panama Junction on IBB Boulevard at Maitama.) place where there was this large uncompleted building. Before the demolition of that uncompleted structure each morning, you see young men and ladies who obviously have no source of earnings coming out of that place. All we noticed here is that the ladies will dress at dusk to go out every day. ” Mrs Komolafe said they are obvously prostituting to survive. And such lifestyle comes with its social risks to the neighbourhood as different kinds of men come here to meet with them.
Some of these men could be robbers who used their visits as decoy for spying the area. So they can get use to the vicinity. This would aid their escape when they come to perpetrate their neferious act, she noted.
Why would any sane person take refuge in an uncompleted building? This can be appreciated when one accepted the fact that Abuja the federal Capital Territory, holds very strong attraction to all Nigerians. The lure in the words of Hamze Abdullahi, a trader at the Utako market is ‘oportunity’. It is common to hear non visitors to the city in different parts of the country expressing interest in being in the Federal Capital Territory as residents. There is nothing wrong with this dream. However, one major obstacle stands in the way of many who seek to actualize this dream. That obstacle is accommodation.
Accommodation remains pivotal to the stay of any resident in the city. Although accommodation is same for johny just come in any city. Abuja poses a great challenge to the new comer. The rate for a normal apartment in other states of the federation is not same in Abuja. It is often over 200% higher on the average. This is subject to the area where you find somewhere to live.
Inspite of this, adventurous persons spare no opportunity to visit the FCT. This attraction rests strongly on the conviction that the FCT offers limitless opportunity to increased value to any hardworking person materially or otherwise. The lure has attracted all shades of persons to the city: The skilled and unskilled, each, seeks the connection of the Federal Capital Territory to his path for a better destiny.
As the challenge for accommodation proves very difficult for many, in the short term, they seek shelter from willling friends and relations. Those who are not so lucky take refuge in many uncompleted building in the federal capital territory. This set of people attracted the silent disapproval of many residents of such areas.
African Herald investigations revealed that most security men employed by the owners of these uncompleted buildings became the facilitators of these illegal occupants. Shehu Haliru said while he was the watchman in an uncompleted building to his former boss at Asokoro, his landlord travelled abroad leaving him without money for about three months. When a stranded visitor to town approached him “I obliged him a place to stay since I had nothing to lose”. He accepted to let him spend the night there, gradually the fellow whom he called Bayo made his visit regular and later lived there for six months with him. This time at an agreed fee which he refused to disclosed.
According to Haliru, Bayo moved in with his friends and latter other persons joined them and “our place became a barracks of some sort. The problem we had was toilet. But the dam behind us served as a toilet.
Yesufu a taxi driver admitted that when he first came to town from Oyo state in 2003 he lived in an uncompleted building. Although he never paid a dime to any body, he said his friend intoduce him to the apartment at Maitama district. Yesufu’s decision was predicated on the fact that his car which he depended on to sleep for a start until he would be able to raise the money for rent in the suburb became unbearable during the heat. According to him he stayed for barely three months before he found a place.
Presently, there are still pockets of such places in the FCT. They are no longer a common feature of the FCT; given the manner El-Rufai stemmed the trend in the FCT during his time. Although the name still evokes unpleasant memories to many residents of the FCT, the removal of this feature in the FCT remains a plus on his administration that gave no physical structural development to the city. Only recently, the present minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Adamu Aliero, has declared that his administration will not tolerate the development of illegal structure in the FCT. The minister vowed to pursue the dream of the founding fathers for the FCT. This translates to pulling down illegal structures in the FCT. This is a clear demonstration of upholding the El-Rufai’s demolition exercise.