By Gabriel Agbeja

The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said it would invest more in meteorological data generation to improve weather prediction across the country.

Prof. Mansur Matazu, the Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) made the promise during his keynote address on the occasion of the World Meteorological Day.

Matazu , who was represented by Prof. Effiom Oku, NiMet Director, Research and Traning, said the Federal Government had been investing in meteorological data generation over land, water and in the atmosphere.

The theme of the event is  “The future of weather, climate and water across generations“.

“The data generated are so critical for past assessments and future predictions including forecasting.

” In NiMet, we have placed special importance in the future generations by working with the young minds in the country.

“ Usually, our weather observers are largely youths who begin their careers in the field of meteorology at a very young age.

“Similarly, we have designed, developed and implemented a programme called Young Meteorological Ambassadors whose members are here today, “ he said.

He said the agency had signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with several universities in Nigeria to promote the science of meteorology within the academic institutions at tertiary level to support national and regional development.

He said that NiMet continued to render services in support of aviation, agriculture, construction, tourism, defence, water resources management, telecommunications, environment and communications among others.

According to him, the development of NiMet`s products and services include the effective utilisation of young minds as well as the experienced ones within the agency creating innovations “to what it does and how it does them”.

“This has positively impacted on our routine publications and on-demand services such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction as part of the Agency’s meteorological Early Warning System in line with the United Nations Early Warning for ALL.

“Other products and services include Hydrometeorological Bulletin, Annual State of  Climate report in Nigeria, Agrometeorological Bulletin, Climate and Health Bulletin, Daily weather outlooks and bulletins, TV weather forecasts, Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, Marine Bulletin, and impact-Based Weather Forecast.

“Multitudes of other routine and on-demand products and services cutting across all socio-economic sectors, “ he said.

The NiMet boss said the agency was also working to preserve its past resources in terms of publications and instrumentation, while developing new ones to provide a robust knowledge base for the upcoming generations.

He urged every Nigerian to invest in future generations and create awareness on the dangers of climate change such as extreme weather and loss of livelihoods by making the World a safer place for All.

Contributing, Dr Bernard Gomez, WMO representative North Central and West Africa, said science and innovation were also key tools to scale up the contribution of weather and climate services to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“ We all must continue to remember that climate change threatens the achievement of many of these goals and indeed our individual plans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the world celebrates Meteorological Day on  March 23 of every year.

The day commemorates the coming into force on March  23, 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organisation.

The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) around the world have continued to monitor through observation (air, land and water) the weather and climate.

“Also providing evidence of the changing climate and leading actions through prediction towards adaptation, mitigation and creation of resilient societies. “ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yusuf

By Ruth Oketunde

Residents of Damgma and Wupa communities in Jiwa and Gwagwa wards of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have commended the chairman of the area council for executing people-centered projects in their communities.

The residents expressed their appreciation when the chairman inaugurated some projects in the communities in Abuja.

Mr Ayuba Sunday, Village Head, Damgma community, commended the chairman for providing the community with solar-powered borehole, adding that it had reduced the hardship of getting clean water in the community.

“This community has never seen a chairman so closer to his people in terms of rural projects provision.

“The provision of water is very essential as it would save every member of this community from diseases and reduce all forms of water related diseases in the community.

“We have waited for the provision of borehole in this community for decades, all to no avail, but we thank God for bringing the chairman to fulfill our desire,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Uzor Daniel, a resident of Wupa community, commended the chairman for installing rural electricity in the community, adding that it would boost their businesses.

“Businesses in the community will boom and both Indigenes and non-indigenes will get power supply for the first time.

“We have all decided to give him every support he needs and we are very thankful and excited.

“This is what government is all about. Providing the needs of the people and bringing government very close to the people at the grassroot,” he said.

Speaking, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman of AMAC advised the residents to protect and maintain government facilities in their domain.

He said he will continue his tour round the area council to monitor ongoing projects.

He called on the contractors to deliver the projects awarded to them to execute on time or risk revocation of their contracts.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Dr Emem Omokaro, the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) says the centre will continue to collaborate with other relevant agencies to improve the health and well-being of senior citizens in the country.

Omokaro stated this on Wednesday shortly after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Health and the NSCC in Abuja.

The MoU was signed during a stakeholder’s engagement on the development of National Benchmark for the training of caregivers to older persons.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU is aimed at developing a National Action Plan on the care of older persons in the Healthcare sector.

She said that the meeting consideref the state of care services for older persons and built a consensus that older persons have a right to dignity and security.

According to her, the centre will ensure the training of caregivers and examine their capacities and their competencies as well as the Care Agency Operators to ensure that effective result was achieved.

The D-G said the centre had carefully considered the relative challenges and the cultural background in line with global best practice.

Omokaro said the centre was determined to deliver a sustainable process and secure care services toward building the ultimate care system for the betterment of older persons in Nigeria.

“ In Nigeria as in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, families provide the majority of care for older persons, the number of older people in Nigeria is growing rapidly.

“The latest survey 2022 by NBS shows an increase of two million from 14.8 million in 2019 and it is expected to double by 30 million in the year 2050.

“ The conflicts of family caregivers and other non-cultural factors with insufficient support systems for older persons, increasing the care burden of a few family caregivers who provide care without any training or support,“ she said.

Also, the representative of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo, commended the centre for mapping out a unique strategy towards achieving healthcare services to older persons in the country.

Gwarzo urged the stakeholders to also consider the plight of older persons “who are victims of natural disasters”.

He, therefore, expressed readiness to support the centre in its determination to deliver quality health for senior citizens in line with its mandate.

Similarly, the representative of the Minister of Health, Dr John Ovuvoroye assured the centre of the ministry’s commitment to providing strong synergy toward achieving improved healthcare for older persons in line with universal health coverage.

Ovuvoroye said the MoU would further strengthen the collaboration with the centre for the benefit of older persons. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Grace Yussuf

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, on Wednesday, said it had concluded arrangements to distribute food items to 5,000 people and give free Ramadan breakfast to 5,500 Muslims daily for 30 days.

Chairman of Abuja branch of the society, Alhaji Mohammad Olayiwola, stated this at a news conference, with the theme: “Ramdan, Islam and Good Governance: the Role of Muslims”, held at the Ansar-ud-deen mosque, Maitama, Abuja.

Olayiwola described Ramadan period as a month of re-awakening of all Muslims to their roles and responsibilities as well as Islam’s perspective on good governance.

According to him, the month also reminds Muslims of equality of citizens before Allah.

“Since we all know that Allah blesses one more than the other, it behooves on us to share our prosperity with the less privilege in the society in order to reduce the social menace in the country.

“Our food bank will deal with the collection of raw food items donated by the well-to-do amongst us and distribute to 5,000 less-privileged to have good food in their respective houses daily.

“Also, we are going to organise Ramadan breakfast for 5,500 Muslims daily in our mosque in Maitama. We solicit public support in this direction to complement our own earmarked resources,” he said.

The chairman further stated that the society would organise its 28th Annual Ramadan lecture to be delivered by a renowned Islamic scholar and Northern States Council Missioner of Ansar-ud-deen, Sheikh Muhideen Ajani-Bello.

According to him, Ajani-Bello will, after the lecture, lead national prayer to seek divine guidance for good governance, peace and tranquility in the democratic transition in the country.

“Similarly, we are going to organise daily Tafsir of Qur’an for the 30 days of the month of Ramadan, starting from March 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) says it is partnering with relevant agriculture agencies, health sector and traditional leaders to provide conducive work environment for aged mothers.

Dr. Emem Omokaro, the Director-General, NSCC stated this in Bwari on Monday, during a town hall meeting on the implementation of its programme tagged: “Grandmothers Arise for Good” initiative, an Economic Tree-Crops Planting Project in Bwari, FCT.

Omokaro said the centre was determined to support senior citizens, especially aged mothers to boost their agricultural business and ensure decent living.

“ We took time to develop a wide sector intervention for communities; we call them grandmothers arise for good. Principally, the focus is for all the women who we know are assets in their communities.

“ Most of them who are farmers and engaged in crafts have been doing their businesses individually, not really making a headway in terms of breaking even but at least, mitigating multidimensional competition.

“So, we call in the royal fathers to work with the community to end open defecation through the primary healthcare to institute a national health insurance and access to health,” she said.

The NSCC boss said that the essence of the partnership was to converse with the senior citizens in the community, support them and organise their farming to attract more fund for them.

“And we bring in all the agencies to fulfill our mandate which is to improve the quality of life ” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the meeting include representative from the Federal Capital Territory Primary Healthcare Board, Water Aid, FCT Head of Agricultural Services and Sanitation; and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Grace Yussuf

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has called on companies in the territory to compliment government’s efforts in providing and sustaining quality infrastructure in the nation’s capital.

Bello said this at the opening of the Julius Beger Abuja Furniture Production (AFP) shown room, held in Maitama, Abuja.

Represented by the Director, FCT Public Building, Mr Adebowale Ademo, the minister said the FCT Administration was concerned with quality work in and around the city.

He added that the administration would always work with competent firms that could add value to the government efforts.

The minister, who commended the company, said that FCT administration would always go for the best to make the aesthetic of Abuja a world class.

“AFP has been a major partner in the development of the city, it is well known for producing high quality furniture over the years. So, we want it to compliment government’s efforts.”

Bello described the take off of the company as very impressive considering the quality of product that the firm produced.

“This is what the administration has been looking for, a situation whereby people can come in with a lot of commitment to the city and also provide the necessary services that will compliment the efforts of government by ensuring that Abuja becomes one of the 20th habitable city in the world.

“The government has made a lot of efforts to ensure that the esthestic of the city is respected, when we have outfits that contribute to the development of the city, respecting the laws and also requirements of the master plan, it is also help.

Earlier, the General Manager, AFP, Oliver Cohnen, said that the company which was an arm of Julius Berger plc had been producing furniture for over 30 years.

According to him, the service of the company covers all categories of people and we keep to standards. (NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Yahaya Isah

The FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) on Thursday in Abuja unveiled Self-Service Vehicle Registration Portal for a seamless registration of vehicles in the territory.

The Director of DRTS, Dr Abdul-Lateef Bello, said it was no doubt that long before now, motor vehicle registration in the territory had been faced with various challenges.

These challenges, he said, had been largely due to manual procedures and characterised by the unwholesome activities of touts as well as unnecessary administrative procedural traffics.

“The myriads of these challenges with all the attendant systemic distractions on the general output of staff and the image of the DRTS can best be imagined.

“So, having done a comprehensive overview of the prevailing system on assumption of duty, as the Director, in March 2022, it became expedient to review and introduce basic innovations to reposition the directorate for quality service delivery.

This is “particularly with respect to motor vehicle administration in the territory,“ Bello said.

The director said that it was important to note at this particular point that the introduction of technology-based solution, which had proven to be a better solution to all human endeavours, was the only way out.

Bello said based on the prevailing circumstances, the service, however, deemed it necessary to introduce real-time online based internet registration portal for the residents of FCT.

This, he said, also conformed with international best practice which tended to eliminate completely the inadequacies of the prevailing circumstances in the motor vehicle registration in the territory.

“We make bold to assert that the introduction of the self-service vehicle registration portal in the FCT will be a game changer for motor vehicle registration with all the multiplier advantages.“

He said that the system would allow a client to register his or her vehicle from the comfort of their homes in real-time.

The director said it would also go a long way in reducing multiple registration of vehicles and further strengthen the integrity of the data base.

“The system will further reduce unwholesome activities, touting and other human errors to the barest minimum. It will also go a long way in reducing time as well as saving the energy involved.

“The system will no doubt stimulate revenue generation as well as leakages in the system,“ he added.

The director promised that as an agency saddled with the responsibilities of motor vehicle administration in the territory, it was poised to bring to bear every innovation needed to make FCT a trail blazer in vehicle registration.

Earlier, the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, while unveiling the portal, commended the service for leveraging on such a wonderful technology in making the process of vehicle registration very seamless and less stressful.

“This is a very wonderful thing to happen to the residents of FCT. The residents can now access the system, register their vehicles anywhere and at anytime via their electronic devices.

Bello urged the service to come up with more innovations that would make life much better for the residents of the territory, especially in area of adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Apo Hills Landlords Residents Association has appealed to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to shelved the planned demolition of illegal estate in Apo-Tapi and Lugbe.

The association’s Secretary-General, Mr Miracle Uduma, made the appealed while briefing newsmen during a peaceful protest by members of the association at the Crownprince Estate office in Asokoro, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FCT Administration, on March 10, lamented the proliferation of illegal housing estates and other developments along Idu Train Station, Apo Tapi and Lugbe areas of AMAC.

Uduma said that the landlords of the Apo hills who had been in the area for over six years were deceived by the developers that they have obtained original land title documents from the relevant agencies of the FCT Administration.

” We are here to appeal to the Federal Capital Territory Administration to come to our aid because we have been lied to and all of our investment are about to go down.

” This is a call for help because we have been lied to and right now our lives are in danger. Untill March 10, we do not know the truth about what was going on in our homes.

” We are totally uninformed about the dealings of most of this people who claimed to be developers who turnout to be land grabbers and it is a very big issue.

” We got to know about the situation when the Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima came on National Television and said that they were going to demolish illegal houses in Apo, which is where we reside.

” Until that interview by Galadima, we never knew or heard any idea that those land had no title.

”All the developers, all the Estate Owners have been playing us all along, they gave us falsified documents, claiming that they have land title in this place and encouraged us to built,” he said.

The secretary, who said most of the residents of the area were retirees, expressed readiness of the residents to pay contravention fees to the FCT to enable them retain their houses instead of being demolished.

Also, Mrs Lami Ayuba, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of National Institute of Town Planners, advised those who wanted to acquire property in the FCT and anywhere in the country to ask for the Allocation Letter, Land Use Approval, Building Plan Approval and Site Plan.

Ayuba also urged those who needed to acquire property to always get at least two professionals to verify the property before the transaction was concluded.

She revealed that there were lots of desperate syndicates in the city posing as government officials, defrauding the people.

” They can even enter government offices and pretend that they are officials because they have arranged with developers to pose as staff of FCTA and clear their papers.

” So, we are not even sure that the offices they enter are the legitimate offices, or the staff that attend to them are actually the legitimate officers.

” There is a process for approval; there is a process for land verification that you are supposed to go through but the problem is that most of the landlords at the point of buying these property don’t contact professionals to do due diligence,” she said.

She called on the FCTA to do something urgently to address the growing incidences of land grabbers by harnessing the energies of developers and channel them into positive use.

NAN reports that the Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, earlier raised alarm over the spike in adverts on social media by land grabbers and illegal developers of housing estates, at a news conference.

Galadima said that the department had served demolition notices to all illegal developers along the Idu Train Station, Apo Tapi and Lugbe Areas, where ”people are busy spending money”.

He said that the affected areas had not yet been detailed with designed layout, decrying ”but people are carrying fake title documents that they were allocated by AMAC.

” Our attention has been drawn to some areas of the city where people are developing without any title developments.

”And we want to educate the public and to inform them that some of these adverts are on illegal developments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Grace Yussuf

By Ruth Oketunde

Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed, has expressed concern over incessant fire incidents in some communities and markets across the country in the past few days.

Ahmed, who expressed the concern in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, called on all stakeholders to leverage insurance companies to safeguard their property and businesses.

He stressed the need for Nigerians to reduce fire disasters and all associated human and material losses across the country.

“Fire, like any other disaster, has been part of human existence, but the frequency and impacts of this in recent weeks has necessitated a serious concern and call for action by all stakeholders.

“In December last year, I had the cause to alert the public to the dangers of fire disasters during the dry season.

“As with the onset of the dry season, the present onset of the rainy season is also characterised by typical windstorms that easily propagate combustible matter in form of dry vegetation and agricultural wastes,’’ he said.

All these ingredients, according to him, constitute strong enhancers of fire outbreaks.

“The best firefighting technique is prevention. The best way to prevent a fire is to create awareness and develop a culture of safety and resilience among authorities, communities and individual members of the public,” he said.

Ahmed called on State and Local Emergency Management Committees as well as the media to help generate and disseminate the right awareness and prepare the public for necessary responses to fire disasters.

“Efforts should aim at measures and procedures for averting fire outbreaks, early detection and timely response to save lives and minimise damage and economic losses.

“All hands must be on deck to reduce fire disasters and all associated human and material loses across Nigeria.

“Government agencies, corporate organisations, private businesses and individuals should endeavour to leverage insurance companies to safeguard and protect their property and businesses as a form of risk transfer in case of fire,’’ he said.

The director-general said that the main goal of NEMA and its partners was to save lives and property, stressing that no effort and resources was too much to commit to achieving this.

He said that all NEMA zonal and operation offices had been directed to work with the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to conduct joint assessments in communities affected by fire disasters. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad and ‘Wale Sadeeq