By Ikenna Uwadileke

Nigerians under the aegis of Nationals in Diaspora Mentoring Corps (NIDMECORP) have urged the incoming administrations, both at the federal and state levels, to give Diasporans appointments.

The President of the group, Mr Alistair Soyode, in a statement he issued on Friday blamed the exclusion of Diasporans from key positions, boards and constituted authorities as one of the reasons for Nigeria’s slow path to development.

According to Soyode, appointing Diaspora Nigerians in Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) and parastatal agencies would strengthen governance and leadership in the country.

He said that Nigerians in the diaspora played major roles in the 2023 elections in the country and described it as a first among many which significantly stood for justice, fairness and equity.

“With more than 20 billion dollars remittances yearly, they are not just an economic powerhouse but contributors to the wellbeing of the citizens,’’ he said.

He urged the various incoming governments to see the call as a policy direction that would strengthen the country using the best of its citizens outside the country.

“We are very excited that the Diaspora community has one of the best brains not just for the benefits of Nigeria but of their host nations, adopted or country of birth whilst still having a major affiliation to Nigeria’s development and growth, economically, professionally and otherwise.

“The yearly remittance contributions to families and projects or supporting and sponsoring programmes created the Nigeria we have today.

“Having them in policies and government programmes will help boost knowledge, skills and increase the GDP as well as local resources for the affected areas.

“Examples of Nigerians doing well can be seen at the recently acclaimed successful coronation of King Charles, where the security arrangements and schedules were led by DC Ade Adelekan, among others.

“The Diaspora Nigerians have shown total commitment to Nigeria’s development which also brings to the table the yearly Diaspora Day event in July where Nigerians from all over the world come home to discuss, deliberate and find ways to empower millions.

“The government at all levels must be more proactive to utilise such events to secure the willing partners into all boards, ministries and parastatal agencies.

“It is by showing the political will that others will be partners freely and joyfully extend hands of business and professional skills.

“President Muhammadu Buhari approved and put in placed the Nigeria In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and I pray the incoming government will provide the needed structures, resources and policies for its full implementation and execution.

“This commission can deliver more with the needed resources and it is Nigeria as a nation that will gain from her services, international reach and global partners of our Nigerians in the Diaspora which shows the principles of participatory democracy as experienced outside the country,’’ Soyode said.

He said that it would amount to a positive leadership and political inclusion to have each ministry, agency, commission and parastatal agency with at least one Nigerian in Diaspora on in the board.

According to him, diasporans appreciate such gestures and policies.

Soyode also said that the inclusiveness of Diaspora Nigerians would be a departure from lack of future planning and fear of diaspora leadership into a new era of global Nigeria dominance with skills and experiences, making Nigeria the choice destination of economic growth.

“We urge local government chairmen, state governors and the incoming president to extend appointments to diasporans without delay.

“The whole nation has about 1500 commissioners and ministers not taking into account the other MDAs while there are more than 15 million diasporans and surely they will contribute immensely to speed the developments on all aspects of the nation.

“NIDMECORP, on behalf of Nigerians in Diaspora, positively demands justice, fairness and equitable representation for the benefits of Nigeria’s fast development.

“We reiterate and call for this inclusiveness and full invitations to the best of our brains to come home on a three, six or nine months to one-year sabbatical working leave for Nigeria.

“Few of our best are now positioned in globally recognised institutions, companies and organisations,’’ Soyode said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kingsley Kubeyinje

By Ifeoma Aka

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has embarked on registration of all unemployed people in Nigeria with a view to engaging them in productive ventures.

The Enugu State Coordinator of the agency, Mrs Ifeoma Ezekwe, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Enugu.

Ezekwe said that the exercise was being held across the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, Abuja.

She said that the registration was going on simultaneously across the 774 local government areas (LGAs) nationwide, adding that it was for all classes of unemployed; and with or without any educational qualifications.

According to her, the essence of the exercise is to capture all unemployed persons to help the country with proper planning, as well as engage them in profitable ventures with a view to curbing crime and boosting economic development.

“The country cannot plan without data, data is very important in planning, and NDE since 1987, had been in the business of reducing the number of unemployed people, making them employers of labour and self-employed.

“I was appointed the state coordinator in May 2022, and I am fortunate to serve under the current Director-General of NDE, Malam Nuhu Fikpo, whom I call employment generator.

“I call him employment generator because since he came on board, we have never had a minute rest without activities and programmes,” Aka said.

Ezekwe explained that NDE had four key programmes which included; vocational skills, small skills enterprises, rural empowerment and special public works.

She said that the state directorate just concluded training of women on bags and shoes making, so that as full time housewives, they could have a vocation and earn some money.

According to the NDE official, when the directorate trains people, they give stipends as transportation fare to enable them go for the trainings.

Aka, who however, said the NDE had faced challenges such as paucity of funds and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Naira re-design policy, expressed optimism that the directorate would be able to discharge its mandate.

Ezekwe called on the state government to assist the agency with vehicles that could be used to access the hard to reach LGAs in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

By Moses Omorogieva

A Japanese non-profit organisation, JUDOs, that promotes judo sport worldwide, has donated 24 judo kits to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, made the presentation on Thursday at the Sports Arena, Police College, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Kazuyoshi said that the kits were donated by the organisation to promote sports in Nigeria.

“The President of JUDOs is Kosei Inoue, a Gold Medalist in 100kg category at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. When I met him in September 2022, he told me that sports can bring people together across cultural and religious boundaries.

“His organisation aims to contribute to the development and promotion of sports and support athletes from young to adult. Mr Inoue hopes that the NPF will share his principles and promote Judo in Nigeria.

“Judo is not a sport, but an art that teaches core values like courage, respect, and self-defence.

“These values stretch into every area of your life. This is why I believe that incorporating judo into the NPF training would be beneficial.

“The core principle of judo is soft overcoming hard, which teaches us that size and strength alone do not determine a person’s worth. Judo trains both body and spirit, and its benefit go beyond fighting and self-defence.

“It teaches values that are necessary for discharging official duties and relating to the general public. I hope that this donation will contribute to the growth of judo practitioners in Nigeria,” he said.

The I-GP, Usman Alkali, commended the Japanese organisation for the donation stressing that the act was an important handshake of friendship between both countries.

Alkali, represented by the Force Director of Sports, CP Patrick Afayero, who appreciated the donation said the Force would continue to ensure unity, safety and security.

He noted that the NPF had contributed to the development of sports both locally and globally in the last nine decades
with evidence of medals at various championships.

“One of my strategic objectives when I took over as the 21st indigenous I-GP has been to continue to promote sports with the Force as a vehicle for physical fitness and mental alertness of officers, which in turn makes them better police officers, well fitted for the assiduous task of policing the national.

“I am very pleased to put on record that this laudable donation of judo kits on behalf of JUDOs- a Japanese non-profit organisation, is unprecedented and highly commended.

“It must be known that by this gesture, you have contributed in no small measure to the combative readiness, mental and physical fitness and self-defence in unarmed combat, of the police officers and men who will put these gifts to good use,” he said.

He, however, assured the Japanese that the kits would be a turning point in the Judo sport for Japan and Nigeria as they will produce positive fruits in future.

Mr Tunji Disu, a Commissioner of Police, at the presentation noted that the NPF brought Judo sport to Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPF Judocals put out a demonstration before the presentation of the gifts. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola says state governments will now be feeding and accommodating inmates in their states.

He said this followed the recent consultational amendment which placed Correctional Services on the concurrent list.

Aregbesola gave the insight while speaking at a two-day High-Level Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management, on Thursday in Abuja.

“This simply means that states are now empowered to establish their own Correctional Services and facilities.

“States which do not have correctional facilities would have to pay the Federal Government for the feeding and accommodation of their inmates,” the minister said.

According to him, this is a huge relief to the Federal Government which used to shoulder the burden of accommodating and feeding inmates.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in 2023, the Federal Government had earmarked N22.44 billion to feed inmates across 244 correctional facilities in the country.

The minister lamented that the huge amount was draining the coppers of the Federal Government.

“These facilities are being run by the Federal Government. It should be noted that the criminal justice system of Nigeria makes provision for state and federal offences.

“However, until the amendment of the Constitution, only the Federal Government was in charge of custodial centres.

“With the amendment of the Constitution, states are now empowered to build correctional centres and facilities to house offenders who are convicted and sentenced for committing state offences.

“Where states are unable to build custodial centres, it is believed that they can suggest ways to collaborate with the Federal Government in feeding and housing these state offenders,’’ he added.

Aregbesola said that the conference had brought to the fore,  applicable laws to aid the reform of correctional services, including custodial and non-custodial measures .

He said that Section 12 (4-12) of the NCoS Act, gave the Service the powers to reject inmates when custodial centres are full.

“By the provision of the Act, the Controller-General, NCoS, is mandated to inform the head of the judiciary of when the custodial centres have exceeded their capacity.

“This is necessary, so that more offenders are not sent to the centres to serve their sentence. Where his information is not heeded, he is mandated to reject new inmates.

“It is hoped that the above measure will curb the dumping tendencies leading to overcrowding of the custodial centres.

“This will be by encouraging the payment of fines for simple offences, non-custodial sentencing and also building and construction of new correctional facilities,’’ the minister said.

The Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa said that the sad cases of jail breaks had claimed the lives of of officers and inmates, and escape of prisoners.

Nababa said that the trend, posed a grave threat to the sovereignty and prosperity of the country.

“However, we are not resting on our oars to ensure that we stem the tide.

“We have stepped-up security in and around our Custodial Centres by fortification of access controls.

“We have increased the capacity of our Armed Squad Personnel through specialized training and deployment of high caliber weapons.

“We have up scaled our use of technology for security, with the improvement of the Correctional Information Management System for inmates’ biometric capturing to cover more formations.

“In like manner, a Situation Room has been established at the National Headquarters to enable real-time monitoring of Custodial Centres in phases.

“Similarly, we have continued to improve collaboration with sister security agencies at strategic, tactical and operational levels,’’ Nababa said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Maharazu Ahmed

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed readiness to support green manufacturing to ameliorate the negative impacts of their production activities on the environment.

Otunba Francis Meshioye, President, MAN, said this at the maiden edition of MAN Strategic Dialogue Session on Environment and Green Manufacturing in partnership with Natural Eco Capital on Thursday in Lagos.

Meshioye, describing green manufacturing as the current global phenomenon said MAN was committed to guiding its members to make significant progress in this regard.

To achieve this, he said, that the association in January created the Environment and Green Manufacturing Unit with the responsibility of stirring awareness among MAN members on climate change issues and Environmental Management System.

He said the unit in providing members with strategies and necessary information needed to drive environmental sustainability was set to collaborate with relevant institutions and international agencies in achieving its mandates.

“This novel unit amongst other things would guide and encourage seamless transition of members manufacturing processes through the assistance of relevant agencies and organisations to an eco-friendlier production environment.

“This can be achieved through the utilisation of leading technologies and practices on the environment and create mechanisms for sustainable development.

“It will be supporting and facilitating the adaptation of clean and renewable energy by manufacturers while encouraging them to build and develop capacity in environment and green manufacturing,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Director-General, National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, noted that air quality had become a major concern in many parts of the world.

This, Jauro said, led to the need for growing awareness to address air pollution and its impact on public health and the environment.

He said that Nigeria, like many other countries, was already experiencing the impacts of climate change such as increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent and severe extreme weather events (floods and droughts).

Jauro, however, said that Nigeria had since taken steps to implement climate mitigation and adaptation measures, including the development of renewable energy sources and sustainable land-use practices.

“Since the ratification of the Paris Agreement, Nigeria has been very forthcoming in turning ambitions into implementable policies and aligning its environmental regulatory regime with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

“There is the need to prioritise the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations, as well as the development of policies and incentives to promote a low-carbon economy.

“Industries switching to cleaner technologies and transitioning to low-emission development are indispensable for achieving sustainable economic growth through pathways that yield reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other social, economic, and environmental benefits,” he said.

Dr Eugene Itua, the Chief Executive Officer, Natural Eco Capital, said that the adoption of sustainable manufacturing was with enormous benefits and could engender competitiveness and a more resilient economy.

Itua noted that there was a spectrum of efforts to be made toward sustainable manufacturing such as the use of renewable materials, modification of production processes, and use of reusable, biodegradable products.

“Industries must change their manufacturing process to minimise waste, conserve raw materials, and capture and reuse waste materials.

“We must also utilise new technologies involves incorporating more environmentally responsible technologies and equipment into your production process,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Ruth Oketunde

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has dispatched assorted food items to the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan to cater for stranded Nigerians waiting to be evacuated to Nigeria from Sudan.

This is contained  in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the agency, Mr Manzo Ezikiel on Thursday in Abuja.

Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General of the agency, explained that the food items are meant to cater for the Nigerian citizens who are awaiting evacuation.

The items consist of 100 bags of rice, 50 bags of  beans, 10 cartons of seasoning, 50 cartons of spaghetti and 5 bags of iodized salt.

He said that the items had since been transported   to Port Sudan via a TARCO aircraft which brought 123 stranded Nigerians to Abuja at about 12:25 p.m.

This brings a total number of 2,246 stranded Nigerians evacuated to the country from the war-ravaged  country.

According to him  the evacuation exercise is still in progress as efforts are being made to engage more Nigerian airlines to strengthen the process of transporting more Nigerians willing to come back home. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Kayode Olaitan

By Emmanuel Afonne

Mr Umar Yakubu, the Executive-Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTiW), has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to raise the bar in the fight against corruption to save the economy from collapse.

Yakubu made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a workshop/presentation of the Transparency and Integrity Index methodology handbook on anti-corruption.

He said the handbook was expected to promote transparency, develop strong preventive mechanisms against corruption.

Yakubu added that the handbook would assist public institutions to improve their performance across the various indicators used for ensuring compliance to public regulations.

“The Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) methodology, therefore, employs a six parameter indices to benchmark the performances of MDAs toward good governance in certain critical areas.

“They are website integrity, fiscal transparency, open procurement and contracting, budget implementation, inclusion and citizens engagement, as well as human resources,” he said.

Yakubu noted that the purpose of the programme was to draw the attention of government at federal, state and local level, of the criteria set out to promote transparency in governance across five major thematic areas.

“When we started in 2021, the highest score was 32. 9 out of 100 marks but in 2022, the Development Bank of Nigeria scored 52, so if you can get 20 percentage increase within one year, I think it is a good development.

“But, a lot of other agencies are not doing so well but with this kind of engagement, we expect them to improve.

“What we assess is the availability of the information on the website, and we are collaborating with other CSOs on anti corruption to ensure that the information being put out is actually true.

“The impact of this workshop on the economy is the prevention of corruption, because we have enough institution combating corruption and we can prevent it before it happens which is a lot cheaper.

“Prosecuting corruption is not cheap and most of the time, it is difficult to get the assess to recovery, so the whole message is about prevention of corruption which cascades into good governance,” Yakubu said.

Mr Dasuki Arabi, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), in his assessment of MDAs said that they would continue to work with CeFTiW to deepen transparency and accountability across public institution.

Arabi said the workshop was aimed at acquainting participants with the requirements necessary for them to discharge their duties creditably, as well as ensure the principles of accountability and transparency in their respective organisations.

“The Bureau drew her inspiration to partner with the CeFTIW on the Transparency and Integrity Index (TII), based on her strategic role as a driver of Public Service Reforms across MDAs.

“Public Financial Management of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms seeks to achieve strategic, efficient and effective mobilisation, allocation and use of public resources as well as ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, integrity and accountability through timely reporting.

“This position is also reinforced by the BPSR role as a member of various Inter– Ministerial Anti-Corruption Agencies, and the underlying objective of driving public engagement in line with its statutory role in the implementation of this objective.

“It is also informed in the quest to put in place machineries and institutional arrangements aimed at providing a common vision and long-term agenda to position the country among major player in the global economy in year 2050

“This workshop/presentation of Transparency and Integrity Methodology Index Handbook is coming at the backdrop that during the 2022 Transparency and Integrity Index, it was evident that most Public Institutions were yet to be versatile with the parameters used for ranking.

“This is owing to low– level of awareness and compliance levels in the parameters used for ranking amongst MDAs,” Arabi said.

Amb. Angela Nworgu, BoT Chairman, CeFTiW, said that transparency must be embraced as an essential principle of good governance.

Nworgu noted that transparency was an important tool with which citizens use to hold government accountable, promote trust in government, and foster a thriving ground for integrity.

“The TII serves as a powerful tool to promote transparency, monitor public sector expenditure, and strengthen the integrity mechanisms of public institutions.

“And through this assessment, we hope to make a long-lasting impact in fostering a culture of openness and accountability within the public sector,” Nworgu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma