By Rita Iliya

Mr Michael Ohiani, Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says Nigeria requires N348 trillion to address infrastructure deficit in the country.

He said this during a presentation at the Second Quarter 2024 Nigeria Public Private Partnership Network (NPPN) meeting in Minna on Wednesday.

The theme of the meeting was “Using PPPs in Infrastructure Delivery in the States to ensure National Food Security and Economic Growth”.

Ohiani disclosed that going by the Medium-Term Development Plan, the country required over N348.1 trillion investment in infrastructure.

He said the private sector would be able to provide the chunk of this investment to the tune of about N298.3 trillion while the sub-national governments can provide N49.7 trillion.

“This goes to show the importance of the private sector in infrastructure development,” Ohiani said.

He added that the revised National Infrastructure Investment Master Plan for the next 23 years envisaged that the country would require $2.2 trillion to bridge the infrastructure deficit in the country.

Ohiani said the various options available through which the government can raise funds were through borrowing, further repatriation of national funds and seeking further foreign intervention.

Other options, he added, were to raise more bonds, Sukuk, tax credit schemes, Public Private Partnership (PPP), both through solicited and unsolicited proposals.

In his keynote address, Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), commended state governors for embracing the benefits and opportunities of PPP as an alternative procurement method.

Akume, represented by Simon Tyungu, a Director in his Office, said the meeting was timely given the infrastructure deficit in the country and government’s efforts to invest in renewal and modernisation.

In his remarks, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger said his administration was focusing on farming, thereby taking advantage of the vast arable land in the state.

Bago, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Salisu, the state’s Head of Service, added that the state would continue to partner with the Federal Government and international agencies in respect of agricultural development.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Abigael Joshua

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Wednesday in Abuja promised to restore water availability within the Wamako area of Sokoto and its environs.

Mr Clement Nze, Director of NIHSA made the promise at a workshop on improving Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) knowledge -based management and governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer Systems (NB-ITTAS).

The Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (ITTAS) is a trans-boundary groundwater resources shared by seven countries of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria.

Nze was represented by Mr Stephen Jabo, the Director, Department of Hydro Geophysics NIHSA.

He said several intervention measures were going to be taken in the course of the project, to restore water balance in Wamako, so that the water balance and sustainability would be restored to that area.

Nze disclosed that it had been observed that this remote Sokoto river had been drying up and only flowed during the rainy season, which he said was due to the impact of climate change.

“Ideally this has been a river that is perennial in nature over the years. But suddenly, due to impact of climate change and human activity, this has affected the water resources.

“NIHSA is charged with the responsibility of assessment and management of the country’s water resources and has in accordance with its mandate been implementing the project,” he said.

According to him, the project is being implemented by 11 countries, namely Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania.

“It is under the central coordination of an agency called Sahara and Sahel Observatory (SOS) based in Tunisia, and the project is majorly funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the project is about both surface and groundwater resources.

“The Niger basin is about surface water, which mainly focuses on the river Niger, which is the largest transboundary River in Nigeria.

“Now, this project has identified a particular water resources problem in the Sokoto river basin,” Nze said.

Dr Thomas Adebayo, Communication Consultant on the project, noted that communication was essential on implementing the project, looking at how they could address issue of water quality.

“Now the water quality is actually hampered by some activities that people do.

“These are problems of drilling of boreholes, some practices by farmers, drainages pattern, indiscriminate waste disposal experienced in Sokoto, Katsina, and its environs.

“The issue of communication comes into place because we need to actually address Nigerians, the communities, stakeholders on processes that affect water quality and areas we should help government ensure that water quality is maintained,” he said.

Adebayo advised that legal frameworks should be put in place to create more opportunities for feedback system.

He added that with this, indiscriminate borehole drilling would be addressed as well as the use of water actually prioritised.

“So, communication cuts across every activity of this project because we need to actually be informed of what the project is all about,’’ the consultant said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Justina Auta

Mr Ajentekebia Harry, Country Director, Logistics Nigeria, CONTINENT AFRIQUE, a non governmental organisation, says excessive drug abuse is responsible for the increased violence and crime in Nigeria.

Harry said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the occasion of World Drug Day in Abuja, on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime commemorates World Drug Day every June 26.

According to Harry, Nigerian youths are advised to jettison the attractions of drugs because of its destructive nature.

“Many of the criminal and terroristic activities you see today in Nigeria are drug induced.

“These drugs have the capacity to simulate unholy acts that can plunge the nation into chaos,” he said.

CONTINENT AFRIQUE’s country director, who lauded the National Drugs law Enforcement Agency for its bold fight against drugs, urged youths to embrace a more responsible living.

According to him, drugs are misleading and can gradually eliminate lives of both the victim and innocent members of his neighbourhood.

Tamuno-Ibi Harry explained that drugs were the straight way to destruction if not contained.

“Drugs do no one good, it instead, leads to death and destruction of destinies,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Uche Anunne

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Justina Auta

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to creating a conducive environment for journalists and the media profession in the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at a book presentation titled: “Writing for Media and Monetising it” by Azu Ishiekwene.

“As we celebrate this milestone, it is also important to reaffirm the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to a free and responsible journalism.

“We understand that a society can only flourish when its media organs are free to report the truth without fear of retribution and to equally hold those in authority accountable.

“The Tinubu’s administration is therefore, dedicated to creating an environment where journalists can work freely, without intimidation, and with the assurance that their rights will be acknowledged and protected,’’ Idris said.

The Minister, however, stressed that, freedom comes with responsibility.

He noted that as the government championed the cause of a free press, it is incumbent on the media to exercise the freedom with a sense of duty, ethics and patriotism.

According to him, it is crucial that the information disseminated to the public is accurate, balanced, and devoid of sensationalism.

“We must all strive to ensure that this role is played with the utmost responsibility while we work closely to advance the course of good governance in our country.

“We must be wary of fake news, misinformation and disinformation and indeed, new cankerworms that destroy individual and corporate reputation, and above all, destabilise the society,’’ Idris said.

Speaking on the book, the Minister said the author had done a huge favour of distilling his great skill, talents and experience into the 280 pages of valuable works.

“I am very glad about the enthusiastic reception that the book is getting from a wide range of quarters as well as stellar reviews and comments, from some of our most respected media practitioners.

“This initiative represents a meaningful way for the author to give back to the media industry by offering valuable guidance and support to the next generation of journalists.

“Indeed, the way Azu has creatively deployed the Internet for this new book is a testament to how well he has kept up with changing times and technologies,” he said.

Speaking, the Chairman, Leadership Newspaper Group, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah said the author has been honing his craft, writing articles that educate, inform and entertain on various and diverse topics.

“This book is not just a collection of tips and tricks, but a comprehensive guide that covers the entire process of writing for media from idea generation, to publication.

“However, this book is in a class of its own, because beyond what I just mentioned as its focus, the book also focuses on monetizing the craft of great writing,’’ Nda-Isaiah said

Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed Shekarau, owner of Trust TV and Daily Trust Newspaper encouraged the media to focus on human angle reporting that would create traffic in the media space,

Similarly, Ms Kadaria Ahmed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Radio Now 95.3fm, stressed the need to educate citizens on the significance of what they are doing.

Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Mass Communication Department, School of Postgraduates Studies, Baze University, emphasised on the need for the media to be creative and adapt new trends in media profession. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has pledged more support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in its fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The President made the pledge as Special Guest of Honour, at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, otherwise known as World Drug Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” Tinubu enjoined all and sundry to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative launched by NDLEA three years ago.

The President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

“On this score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed Hope Agenda places the youth at the centre of its focus. Therefore, we ensure that our young people are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential,” he said.

He noted that illicit drugs and substances had wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities and countries worldwide.

“In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.

“It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.

“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, a prudent way of safeguarding our future.

“By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace,” said Tinubu.

He stated that, “the assignment before us as a country requires that we prioritise evidence-based prevention strategies, allocate adequate resources and foster partnerships for greater impact.

“This government will support NDLEA to build on the success recorded in the past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey that will be conducted in the country.”

He urged all Nigerians to join hands in this noble cause, saying it is an assignment for all patriotic citizens, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organisations.

“NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation vis-à-vis its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative,” he said. 

Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, said the ‘Save Our Families’ social advocacy campaign launched at the ceremony by the President, was designed to prevent and tackle drug use through early detection and intervention.

He said the newly produced special drug test kits was a necessity in every home, school and workplace, and that the Drug Integrity Test initiative would metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian.

“The test is intended for secondary school students, students seeking admission into tertiary institutions and returning students, workers in government and private offices and individuals seeking political offices as well as prospective couples before taking their marriage vows.

“The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status of drug use for the purpose of appropriate intervention including treatment and rehabilitation.

“Let me also add that our drug integrity test, which has been adopted by some government institutions and tertiary institutions in the country, is a preventive mechanism,” said Marwa.

He said the Agency had produced tens of thousands of special test kits capable of detecting 15 different substances, which were available in all its commands across the country.

“This is for use in homes, schools, workplaces and others. Apart from helping in early detection of drug abuse especially by our youths so that we can get them help in form of treatment, this will also create some deterrence effects,” he said.

Speaking on the theme for this year’s World Drug Day, Marwa said drug use prevention lied at the heart of NDLEA’s strategy in addressing the drug problem because it was far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences.

“In this regard, we have used our WADA social advocacy initiative to campaign vigorously at the grassroots and create awareness for our people to shun illicit substances.

“WADA is a sensitisation and advocacy initiative that employs the whole of society approach to engage all stakeholders including the government sectors, institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations.

“This is with emphasis on youths in and out of school, community gatekeepers including traditional and community leaders, as well as religious leaders among others.

“I am proud to state that the programme has been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness driven vehicle for public engagement and collaboration against the drug scourge,” he explained.

He stated that between 2021 and 2024, the Agency embarked on 6,423 sensitisation and education programmes targeting young people in school and 987 programmes for Out of School youths in order to create awareness on the dangers associated with drug use.

“This is in addition to the millions of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse messages through our aggressive and impactful media campaigns using various traditional and new media platforms,” he said.

The outgoing United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Dr Oliver Stolpe, also made a number of recommendations.

“After the exceptionally successful testing of the school-based drug prevention programme UNPLUGGED involving half a million secondary school children in Nigeria, the programme should be rolled out to all 28, 000 public and private secondary schools.

“We need to enhance the resilience against drug use among the millions of out-of-school children, for example through sports-based initiatives such as Line Up Live Up (LULU).

“Furthermore, we need to strengthen families in their ability to recognise and address drug use in effective and constructive ways,” he said.

Stolpe further said: “Most importantly, there is an urgent need to repeat the 2018 national drug use survey. Without up-to-date data, there is no way in which we can assess whether our collective efforts have long-term impact and address the actual priorities.”

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who emphasised the importance of testing in schools expressed the ministry’s support for NDLEA drug test campaign.

According to him, the most important place where this prevention fight should start is the education sector.

“And we will do our own part, even last week, it was something we considered and promised to review the existing policies so that we can work with NDLEA to take it to secondary schools and primary schools.

“To establish at all levels compulsory and sustained testing, it has to be compulsory and sustained, right through the years and period of their education,” he said.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Rep. Abass Adigun, called for more budgetary provisions for NDLEA in the face of its multi-faceted mandate.

“We at the national assembly are ready to work with the NDLEA and we need the federal government to look into this,” said Adigun. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has solicited stakeholders’ collective engagement to close the literacy gaps among youths and adults in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the appeal at a National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Achieving Youth and Adult Literacy in Abuja.

The event, organised by the National Commission For Mass Literacy, Adult and Non- Formal Education (NMEC) has the theme: “Addressing the Challenges of Data Collection, Out-of-School Children/Youths.”

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Yobe had the lowest literacy level of 7.23 per cent in 2017, Zamfara 19.16 per cent, Katsina 10.36 per cent and Sokoto 15.01 per cent.

The report shows that Southern states were far better with Imo the highest with 96.43 per cent, Lagos 96.3 per cent, Ekiti 95.79 per cent, and Rivers 95.76 per cent.

The minister, however, said that there must be an holistic approach towards improving the quality of knowledge and certificate given to the adults and non-formal schools.

“The stakeholders engagement is to carry everybody along and get the buying in of all Nigerians.

“The way forward for us is to pay attention to education and this is not only for children but holistic in adults and non-formal education and this education must be backed with certification.

”We are trying to see how we can improve the quality of knowledge and certificate that can be given to our adults and non-formal schools.

“We also want to incorporate skills acquisition into it so that they can also have skills,” he said.

Sununu added that there was the need to begin to create awareness campaign that would help parents appreciate the importance of an educated society.

“For you to have an educated children, you must have an educated family.

“There is a direct relationship of the education of the offsprings to that of the parent,” he said.

The minister said that with President Bola Tinubu’s attention on education advancement, low literacy level would be eradicated in the country.

According to him, the president has achieved relative success in this with the return of over 2 million children back to school.

Also, the Executive Secretary of NMEC, Prof. Simon Akpama, said the roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector had provided a strategic framework to tackle illiteracy challenges head-on.

Akpama urged stakeholders to harness the diverse expertise and resources to create inclusive and effective educative programmes that would enhance unhindered access to quality education.

“The population increase contributes to increasing number of out-of-school children and once parental illiteracy is high, it will contribute to increasing the number.

“We must support government in funding adequately youth and adult literacy. Except this commission is properly funded, we will continue to compound the problem of out-of-school children,” he said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Alternative Education, Mr Ibrahim Mustapha, commended the political will of the President towards changing the literacy narrative of the country.

Mustapha also expressed the commitment and support of the National Assembly in achieving an educated society. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni