Tinubu To Nigerians: Continue To Bear The Hardships…Will Be Over Soon

December 24, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has once again, called on Nigerians to continue to bear the hardships currently walking tall in many homes, assuring that measures taken so far will eventually lead to prosperity.
“My administration will continue to implement palliative measures to ease the burden on the most vulnerable, address current hardships and alleviate the suffering of all our nation’s people.”
In a message to the citizens today, December 24, the eve of Christmas this year, 2023, Tinubu said: “as we navigate this transition to stability, prosperity, and Renewed Hope, I urge you once more to hold fast and rest assured of my commitment to govern with vision, dedication, and empathy.
“Be confident that by the strength of our joint endeavour, we will shortly emerge into a new dawn of prosperity, peace, and irreversible progress.”
He described Christmas, which is the birthday of Jesus Christ as a celebration of hope and redemption.
He asked the citizens to sieze the opportunity of the Christmas to enjoy the company of family, celebrate life, and delight in the gifts of love and friendship that make life worthwhile.
“This is also a time to look out for each other because, amidst the festivities, this time of year for many will be tinged with sadness: some mourning the loss of loved ones and others grieving the hopes that failed to materialise and the dreams that fell short.
“In the spirit of Christmas, reflecting the best of Christ, let us all endeavour to extend the warm embrace of kindness to those around us who need it and let the multiple acts of kindness serve as a light that guides us into a happy and wonderful new year.
“This year has been a time of transformation and relentless change in our country. And I am aware that the necessary reforms we are implementing to achieve a more prosperous, peaceful nation for all have imposed unique sacrifices.”
The President called on the citizens to spare a moment of remembrance and prayer for the men and women of the nation’s armed forces, “bearing arms in our names and ensuring our safety.
“May God protect them and bring them back to their families.”
He commemorated the memory of those who, in their service, have paid the highest price for our nation.
“May God bless their souls and comfort their families and loved ones.
“Let the light of Christmas guide our paths as we bring this year to a close and usher in the new year.”

GOCOP Celebrates Appointment Of Its Top Exco Member, Horatius, As NCAA Director

Greenbarge Reporters

December 23, 2023

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has rolled out talking drums to celebrate the appointment of its Northeast Zonal coordinator, Horatius Egua as Director of Special Duties in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Horatius Egua is one of the 46 directors of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) appointed few days ago by the Presidency, including the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB). NCAA is the regulatory body of the aviation industry in Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The President of GOCOP, who doubles as publisher of Realnews magazine Online, Maureen Chigbo, in a congratulatory message today, December 23, advised Horatius Egua to continue flying GOCOP’s flag as good ambassador, assuring him of the Guild’s support.
She said that Horatius Egua will be the second member of GOCOP to be given an appointment by President Bola Tinubu, who previously made Olufemi Soneye the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Until his appointment, Horatius was the publisher of “The Bridge News” and the immediate past Media Aide to the former Minister of State on Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
GOCOP, a registered non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit organisation, comprises 104 owners of online publication outlets spread across Nigeria and other countries.

6 FCT Area Councils, Stakeholders, Share N4.7 Billion For November

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2023

The six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other stakeholders have shared a total of N4.7 billion as statutory allocation for the month of November, 2023.

The amount, disbursed by the Administration of Nyeson Wike, according to a statement today, December 22, represent a slight decrease to N4,966,217,872.99 billion shared in the month of October, 2023.
The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, who presided over the 184th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), meeting, applauded stakeholders for their invaluable contributions.
A breakdown of the figures released during the JAAC meeting indicates that the sum of N2,278,074,927.90 billion was made available for distribution to the six Area Councils, while the sum of N2,451,206,558.74 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4,729,281,486.64.
Similarly, distributions to the six Area Councils show that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) received N501,091,846.87, while Gwagwalada got N360,916,297.90 and Kuje received N396,980,497.83.
Other Area Councils include Bwari Area Council which received N351,073,007.13, Abaji got N309,019,913.05 while Kwali received N358,993,365.12, bringing the total sum to N2,278,074,927.90 disbursed to the six Area Councils.
Distribution to other critical stakeholders include Primary School Teachers which got N2,069,585,348.67, 15 percent Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57, One percent Training Fund N47,292,814.87, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution got N107,849,405.63, bringing the total sum to N2,451,206,558.74.
Present at the 184th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting were the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, who was represented by the Director of OPS, Samuel Atang; Secretary, Area Council Services, Hon. Bitrus Garki, and the Director of Finance and Administration in Area Council Secretariat, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun.
Others include the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abubakar Abdullahi, Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, amongst others.

Ex INEC Chairman, Prof Jega, Gets Plum Job In Nasarawa University

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2023

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has been appointed as the Pro-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).
A statement in Lafia, the state capital, by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Aliyu Ubandoma, said that the Governor, Abdullahi Sule has approved the appointment.
He said that the appointment is based on the powers bestowed on the Governor, who is the visitor of the institution.
According to the statement, the governor approved the appointment in furtherance to the commitment of the administration to achieve academic excellence in the university.
It said that the governor had also approved the appointment of Shuaibu Kore, Thomas Ogiri and Mrs. Mary Enwongulu as members of the governing council.
The statement said that the governing council would be inaugurated on a date to be announced later.
Source: NAN.

Don’t Waste Electronic Waste, Communications Commission Boss, Maida, Cautions ICT Experts

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2023

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has cautioned experts in the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to reduce the electronic waste generated by the use of the ICT) tools in the country.
Dr. Maida, who spoke at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue in Lagos recently said that the dynamism in technology economic changes has made it imperative to call for the reduction in waste.
The NCC boss was represented by a Director at NCC from the Department of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Dr. Lawal Bello at the Dialogue, themed: “You can recycle anything with a plug, battery, and cable,”
Dr. Maida stressed that Nigeria will benefit more by taking conscious measures to reduce the e-waste generated using ICT Tools and equipment in the country.
“This will not only save the country’s expenditure but also less e-waste to manage.”
He listed some E-Waste benefits and opportunities associated with conscious efforts, saying that the environmental and economic benefits of recycling telecom equipment abound.
He said that recycling telecom equipment can reduce Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, save energy, and prevent e-waste from polluting the environment.
“It can also generate value for telcos by reusing, repairing, or reselling hardware and devices.”
Dr. Maida said that the best practices of telcos embracing sustainability would entail that some telcos should launch initiatives to promote recycling and circularity, as UK Vodafone’s internal asset marketplace, which allows operators to repurpose excess or decommissioned hardware, or its device trade-in programme, which encourages customers to return their old devices for recycling or refurbishment.
Dr. Maida said that other telcos have set ambitious targets to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their use of renewable energy.
He advised Nigerian telecoms operators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) manufacturers to adopt device trade-in.
According to him, such would be nudged to adopt similar ideas on device trade-in programs to reduce E-waste in the country especially for mobile phones and tablets.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media and convener of the E-Waste Dialogue, Sir Remmy Nweke, acknowledged the partnering entities like the NCC, Internet Exchange of Nigeria ( IXPN), Domain Name System (DNS) Women Nigeria as well as Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Nigeria IT Reporters Association (NITRA), Waste Managers of Nigeria and E-waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON) for their consistency in supporting the advocacy.
He stressed the need to positively dispose the mobile devices for the sake of the future and environment.

Oil And Gas: FG Commissions Gas Leak Detection Device, Printed Circuit Board Facility

Greenbarge Reporters

December 21, 2023

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned the Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Facility in Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The key players in the oil and gas sector described the commissioning as a breakthrough in the research and development landscape of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
A statement today, December 21, from the NCDMB, said that the commissioning was performed by the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Aleke, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande and the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
It said that the project was initiated by Amal Technologies Ltd and it received financial and institutional support from the NCDMB, then under the leadership of the immediate past Executive Secretary, Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote, who spearheaded the Research and Development roadmap as a key element of Nigerian Content development in the oil and gas industry.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who spoke at the event, was quoted as describing the commissioning as a significant landmark in the nation’s quest to promote a research culture through the nurturing of innovation-driven startup companies, adding that it represents a breakthrough in local manufacturing of electronic circuitry and devices.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of the Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Kamoru Busari, said that Amal Technologies is one of the proposals that have benefited from the NCDMB Research and Innovation intervention. He said that the innovation adopted the Internet of Things (IOT) technology to introduce into the market a device that generates a short message system (SMS) and callson the phones of homeowners in the event of a gas leak.
He said that the facility also has the capability for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing.
The Minister said that the deployment of the gas leak detection device provided a significant safety tool that will accelerate the adoption of gas as a preferred source of energy for homes, transportation, and industry.
He pointed out that the job creation potential of Amal Technologies is critical to the creation of a circular economy and aligns with President’s 8-point agenda for economic recovery.
In a keynote address, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe said that the smart gas leak detector research is just a proposal submitted to the Board in 2018.
“The idea was nurtured through the NCDMB incubation process hosted in the Board’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Center (TIIC).
“The recurring menace of gas leaks and explosions leading to heavy losses in human lives, property damage, and pollution of the environment is the problem statement that the device seeks to address.”
According to the Executive Secretary, Nigeria’s development priorities are trending towards gas-based industrialization with an exponential increase in gas utilization, hence it had become compelling to deploy safety and preventive tools such as the Amal smart gas leak detection to ensure the safety of lives and properties as the citizens embrace gas usage.
On PCB Manufacturing, the NCDMB boss said that electronics accounted for the largest online spending in Nigeria in 2022 and the Amal technology facility will provide the springboard for the replacement of imported PCBs with locally produced PCBs, in line with the Board’s vision to be the catalyst for the industrialization of the Nigerian economy and its linkage sectors.
“The facility will also generate employment opportunities, pay due taxes, and provide a critical platform for instrumentation and electronics-related Research and development.”
On why the Board invested in Amal Technologies, he explained that NCDMB had developed a strategic roadmap and focussed on the establishment of dedicated funds to support Research, the inauguration of the Nigerian Content Research Council & Technical Advisory Board, and the establishment of Research centers of Excellence among others. The need to focus on research commercialization, he added, is amplified in the NCDMB Technology Innovation and Incubation policy, which created the TIIC inside the Nigerian Content Towers Yenagoa.
The Chief Executive Officer of Amal Technologies, Shehu Tijani Abdullahi recalled how he secured the Board’s support for the project without having any prior relationship with any member of the agency’s management. He affirmed that “the NCDMB is not about having connections or knowing someone at the top. It is about a team of people that are dedicated to the success and progress of local content in Nigeria. Their firmness and dedication to local content continue to give me hope for the country of Nigeria.”
He noted that Amal Technologies had in three years, secured two patents and disrupted traditional approaches to research and development, expressing hope that with the full support of NCDMB, the company would make lasting contributions to various sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, power, agriculture, and beyond.
Beyond producing the Gas Detection device, the chief executive confirmed that the “facility has the capacity to produce over two million Advanced Smart Electric Meters— a significant contribution to the federal government’s National Mass Metering Program (NMMP). This initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to address the current challenges in electrical metering in Nigeria and supporting the government’s efforts to ensure a reliable and efficient power supply.”
He said that the facility holds immense potential for other sectors, including automobile manufacturing, medical advancements, telecommunications, agriculture, and more.
In his comments, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the NCDMB, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu remarked that the Board subjected the innovation to detailed regulatory processes and proof-of-concept checks before deciding to take equity in the project.
He said that the business case showed that the facility had the potential to create over 400 jobs, from the conception to production stages and its annual turnover prospects is about N9.3bn.
He confirmed that the project’s structure is sustainable and consistent, hinting that the Board soon would be unveiling similar innovations that it had incubated.

Port Harcourt Refinery Commences Operation Before Next Week – Oil Minister, Lokpobiri

Greenbarge Reporters

December 21, 2023

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), has announced that the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State will commence operation before the end of this month, December, which is before next weekend.

This is coming on the heels of the mechanical completion and the flare start off of the nation’s biggest refinery as announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) today, December 21

The minister, who made the announcement of the commencement of the operation, said that this followed the fulfilment of the earlier promise to deliver the Phase 1 and the mechanical start up of the refinery that has now been fulfilled.

The minister said that the government and the NNPCL are committed in delivering Phase 2 come 2024.
“We announce to Nigerians that in fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream the phase 1, of the Port Harcourt Refinery by the end of 2023, and the subsequent streaming of the phase 2 in 2024.
“We gladly announce the mechanical completion and the flare start-up of the refinery today December 21.
“This heralds the commencement of production, and another landmark of President Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda.”
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari Kolo Kyari, in his remarks, said that his team is committed to ensuring that the refinery add value not only to the biggest oil firm in Africa but to Nigerians.
“We are committed to seeing to the completion of the Phase 2 in 2024.”

We Have No Doctor To Employ In Kogi, Chief Medical Director Raises Alarm

Greenbarge Reporters

December 20, 2023

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Kogi Specialist Hospital, Professor Isah Adagiri, has raised an alarm over scarcity of Medical Doctors in the state, which he said, calls for concern and drastic measures.
The CMD, who cried out during the 2024 budget appraisal and projection on the floor of Kogi House of Assembly in Lokoja, attributed the scarcity on Japa syndrome.
“In spite of Gov Yahaya Bello’s standing approval to the management of Specialist Hospital to replace any medical doctor that leaves the service for greener pasture, the doctors are not forthcoming.
“Many doctors have Japa, and despite our willingness to replace them by employing new ones, they are no where to be found.
“It’s no longer news that a lot of doctors are moving out of the country in droves for greener pastures, a situation, which is negatively telling on our services as a hospital.
“There are lots of disadvantages in the crave for greener pastures by these doctors, who do all they could to earn every Kobo being paid them.
“But because of patriotism, someone like me can’t imagine myself leaving the service to work out of the country.”
The CMD said that the Specialist Hospital recently lost a doctor, who left for Dubai to work, but died as a result of the hazards of working in a foreign country.
According to him, with a better welfare package, government could discourage and stop the Japa syndrome and allow for excellent health care delivery services in the hospitals.
“For us, in specialist hospital, we always liaised with you, the House Committee on Health and Social Services, to get better welfare packages for our doctors.
“It’s my belief that better pay to our doctors will stop the syndrome and improve our service to residents of Kogi.”
Similarly, the Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Hospital Management Board, Dr Ayo Olayemi, appealed for approval for the recruitment of health personnel in the newly built hospitals across the state.
Olayemi made the appeal while speaking to newsmen shortly after the 2024 budget appraisal of the Board on the floor of Kogi House of Assembly.
The CMD, who praised Gov Yahaya Bello for the building of the gigantic Reference Hospital in Okene and another fantastic one in Gegu-Beki, disclosed that the hospitals were grossly understaffed .
He disclosed that memos had been written by the board to the state government on the need for the staffing of the hospital and the board needed the help of the House to impress it on the executive to give approval for the recruitment of staff.
“Our major proposal for year 2024 is our resolve to maintain all the medical facilities made available by Gov Bello, hence the need to renovate some of the hospitals yet untouched,” he said.
Source: NAN.

ASUU Accuses State Governors, Vice Chancellors Of Hijacking Varsities’ Staff Recruitment

Editorial staff

December 20, 2023

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused Vice Chancellors (VCs) of Nigerian Universities of conniving with state governors, traditional rulers and other politicians to hijack staff employment without due process in the varsities.

The President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who spoke in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, during the Heroes’ Day Celebration of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), lamented that most of the staff members employed through the back door have become scavengers in the system who go after money, forgetting what they were employed to do.

Osodeke said that university employment was supposed to be done through advertisement, but that no university in the country has advertised for vacancies in the past ten years.

According to him, the staff strength of universities has tripled even without the advertisement of vacancies, blaming vice-chancellors of employing unqualified persons.

“Before now, university employment was done through advertisements followed by rigorous interviews, but now how do people get here? Through temporary appointments.

“That’s the problem that we have today. I do not know of any university for the past six to ten years that has advertised, but the staff strength has tripled.

“VCs just sat down somewhere and packed people from traditional rulers, governors, and all other politicians into Nigerian universities as lecturers, most of them now scavengers in the system, going after money and all manners of things.

“Unfortunately, university employment has turned into a constituency project, and we have to struggle to reverse this misnomer and bring sanity to the system.”

The ASUU president vowed that the Union would fight the anomaly to restore sanity to the system.

Akpabio Welcomes Ex Minister, Lalong, To Red Chamber Of NASS

Greenbarge Reporters

December 20, 2023

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has sworn in the immediate past Federal Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, as a member of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, the 10th Senate.
Lalong took the oath of office on the floor of the Senate today, December 20 after which Senator Akpabio congratulated him.
Lalong is a former governor of Plateau State and the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaigns during the 2023 presidential poll that produced President Bola Tinubu.He will represent Plateau-South on the platform of the APC.
Lalong, who is also former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, had tendered his resignation to President Tinubu earlier yesterday, December 19.
Speaking soon after his inauguration, Lalong said that he actually wanted to be a senator after he served his tenure as governor in May 2023.
“This was my first choice, to be candid.”
He said that he opted to hold the position of minister in the interim and on the invitation of Tinubu because he had a case he was pursuing at the courts.
Lalong promised to do his best to serve his electorate to the best of his abilities.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had on November 7, upheld the judgment of the lower tribunal, which declared Lalong the winner of the Plateau-South Senatorial District election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Napoleon Bali, as the winner.
Bali had scored 148,844 votes, while Lalong recorded 91,674, according to INEC.
But Lalong challenged the result on the grounds that the PDP had no proper structures in the state on which a candidate could contest an election.

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