“It will be wrong to fault Nigerian engineers for the failure of refineries. You should blame the political leadership. How can you build and not know how to maintain an asset.”

This was the verdict of President Muhammadu Buhari when, today, Tuesday, he was decorated as Grand Patron of the Nigerian Academy of Engineers (NAE) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari insisted that individual political leaders should be blamed for Nigeria’s ailing infrastructure, not the engineers who had always been willing to contribute to national development.

According to the President, local engineers contributed more than 90 percent to the design and realization of two refineries, 2,500 km of pipelines and 20 depots in the country during his tenure as minister of petroleum in the mid-1970s. He added that the success of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) was largely hinged on their skills.

“Somehow, every time and anywhere I have served in this country, we found it cost effective to use Nigerian engineers, and we relied on their capacity to understudy, learn and deliver.

“By insisting that we must be cost effective in building infrastructure, we will utilize Nigerian engineers. I respect them a lot, and I know it takes time to be trained as an engineer.”

He stressed that he will heavily utilize the talents and skills of local engineers to rebuild ailing infrastructure across the country, describing the engineers as ‘‘competent and cost effective.’’

According to the President, well-trained and highly experienced engineers had contributed immensely to the infrastructural development of the country, and that they remain indispensable.

The President of the NAE, Mrs. Joanna Maduka, said that science, technology and innovation were the key drivers of growth across the globe, even as she asked the Federal Government to explore and engage the multiple engineering talents in the country for more purposeful results.

“For the country to attain sustainable growth status, the Nigerian engineers need to be adequately engaged in planning, policy formulation, consultancy and construction, as well as industrial process of production and manufacturing.”

Mrs. Maduka commended the anti-corruption fight of the President which she said would turn around the fortunes of the economy.  [myad]

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that two people lost their lives in a communal clash in Ikende community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State between the Ebira and Bassa Kwomu speaking people of the community.

During the clash, which occurred on November 26 and 28, various dangerous weapons, including guns were freely used, even as the village has been deserted. No information as to the cause of the conflict as at today, Tuesday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that corpses of the two victims have been recovered by policemen deployed to the area, and that four other persons were seriously wounded in the clashes.
According to him, 15 houses, five vehicles and 15 motorcycles were burnt by the warring groups.
Aya said that the situation has been brought under control, and that no arrest has yet been made.
The PPRO said that Ikende town has been deserted by residents who are now hiding in the bush.
He said that anti-riot policemen will remain on ground until the safety of live and property can be guaranteed, adding that investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the clashes has commenced. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a condolence message to the family and professional colleagues of veteran journalist and renowned social commentator, Abdulkarim Albashir, who died yesterday, Monday.

In a statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari described the late journalist as brilliant broadcaster and writer, who used his talent to promote the cause of the poor and the helpless.

The President commended “the fearlessness and forthrightness of Abdulkarim’s columns in tackling social ills,” adding that the years he spent in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and as Editor-In-Chief of the Democrat Newspapers were most historical and remarkable in developmental journalism.

He said that Abdulkarim’s legacy of giving ‘‘voice to the voiceless’’ will be long remembered.

Abdulkarim died today, Tuesday at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria, at about 3:47pm after a protracted illness. He was aged 68.

Announcing his death, the deceased’s son, Gaddafi Albashir, said on his Facebook wall: “join me and my family in prayers. We lost our dad, Mallam Abdulkarim Albashir. May his soul rest in peace. Baba, we love you but Allah loves you more.”

“The body has just been transported home at Kinkinau GRA in Kaduna and we are currently preparing for his burial tomorrow (today) by 11am,” one of the deceased’s sons also stated.

The late Albashir worked at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and was also editor-in-chief of the defunct New Democrat newspaper.

The fearless writer later became a notable columnist and maintained columns in several newspapers.

Before his death, he suffered an undisclosed ailment which led to the amputation of one of his legs about two years ago.

Earlier this month, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Shehu Sani, visited and donated $3,000 to the deceased to enable him secure an artificial limb.

The late Abdulkarim is survived by one wife and seven children.

In a condolence statement issued by his senior special adviser, political and ideology, Suleiman Ahmed, yesterday, Senator Sani described Abdulkarim as a journalist who exemplified himself in his field of discipline for decades.

He also described Abdulkarim as a man of dignity and honour who lived a reputable life of service to his country and to humanity.

“His unmeasured contribution to the development of journalism in Nigeria can never be forgotten in the history of the profession.” [myad]

Former Nigerian House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Chibudom Nwuche has raised an alarm that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have concluded plan to embarrass him by laying siege on his Abuja residence, portraying him as a criminal.
Nwuche said that EFCC operatives had in a Gestapo style, invaded his Abuja residence while he was out, and are still laying siege on it, ostensibly to arrest him for a yet unknown reason.
He said in a statement that the manner EFCC operatives invaded his house was a sign of the commission’s disregard for due process.
He said that he had never declined the commission’s invitation to warrant this manner of approach.
According to the politician, he can hear the voice of Jacob though it was the hairy hands of Esau, in his travails, stressing that a particular minister from his zone may have engineered it.
He said that the only time he had to face the EFCC was when an NGO he chairs had an issue, which is currently before the court of law, otherwise, he has never been a corrupt person even when he held public office.
Nwuche’s personal residence in Maitama has been under armed siege by operatives of the EFCC since 2pm on Monday.
Operatives involved in the operation said, they were not there to force him to do anything, but to ask him a few questions in an investigation which links him with an unwholesome activity. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that with reforms being put together by his government,  Nigerians who spent the productive years of their lives serving the nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.

The President, who spoke today, Monday, at a meeting with the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, directed a speedy completion of the ongoing nationwide verification of pensioners.

He said that the exercise is necessary because the success of the administration’s goal of putting in place an efficient pension scheme hinged on the availability of a reliable database.

In a presentation to the President, Barrister Ikeazor said that the PTAD management is determined to restore dignity to pensioners by protecting their funds and paying their entitlements promptly.

The Executive Secretary said that in line with the anti-corruption posture of the current administration, the PTAD has put measures  in place to ensure accountability, compliance with regulations and zero-tolerance for corruption. [myad]