Tinubu calls for transition to prosperous, clean economy

By Salif Atojoko
President Bola Tinubu has called for earnest effort and action by citizens, stakeholders, institutions, and development partners to safeguard the environment and ensure a win-win transition to a prosperous and clean economy for all.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the president made the call on World Environment Day marked every June 5.

Tinubu restated his commitment to ensuring the planting of 25 million trees by 2030, not only to protect the environment but also to provide opportunities for Nigeria’s youths within the green-economy value chain.

While calling for a more proactive approach to protect the land and ecosystem through afforestation, water conservation and the cessation of indiscriminate felling of trees, the President emphasised that to “heal our world, we must begin by healing the land and its people.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Environment Day, established by the United Nations during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, is used globally to raise awareness on environmental matters.

“The theme of this year’s occasion, ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience,’ is very significant, particularly for Nigeria, where the scourge of drought threatens parts of the country.

“According to the projections of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, about 40 per cent of the planet’s land is degraded, which directly impacts half of the world’s population.

“The UN Convention to Combat Desertification also says the number and duration of droughts have increased by 29 per cent since 2000 and that without urgent action, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population by 2050,” the president said.

NAN also reports that to ensure Nigeria achieves carbon neutrality by 2060, Tinubu established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions in May, which he chairs.

The committee oversees the nation’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, as well as green economy initiatives.

The president also approved the establishment of Nigeria’s first Green Industrial Zone, Evergreen City, which is poised to be the leading manufacturing hub in Africa for renewable energy technologies, green solutions, and climate-adaptation technologies.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz 

Guarantee our future – pupils urge Tinubu

By Safia Abdulrahman
Some Pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize education, healthcare of the Nigerian children in order to guarantee their future.

The Pupils who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja as they resumed from the Children Day’s break, also appealed to state governors to give education and healthcare priority attention.

In separate interviews with NAN, the pupils said accessible quality education and healthcare delivery are key to the development of a Nigerian child.

They also urged the federal and state governments to see them as the future of a great Nigeria

Alicia Adewumi, a nine-year old pupil of a public school in Dakwa, Bwari Area Council of FCT, said primary education should be made free while one meal should be served to pupils in school

Asked whether her school has ever benefited from free meal programme of any government, the primary five pupil answered in the negative.

Adewumi expressed concerns and unhappiness over many children of her age, hawking and some begging on the streets during and after school hours.

“I am not happy when I see these children of my age walking in group around our area with plates on their hands begging people for money and food

“I always see them, particularly at Dei-Dei junction. One day I asked my father why they dressed in dirty clothes and begging on traffic.

“I think the government should do something to take them out of the streets,” she said.

On the children day celebration, she said though, her parent did not take her out for ice cream as she expected, but the holiday gave her the opportunity to relax, refresh her mind and play with her friends around the house.

Another pupil, 11 year-old Nmesoma Jonah, said that government should provide free reading books and other reading aids for pupils.

She said it is difficult for her parents to provide her with books and most times, she has to borrow from her colleagues to do her home work.

Jonah who said she would like to be a Medical Doctor when she grew up, said she was fascinated with the profession because of the care she got when she was admitted in a hospital.

Lantana Dogo, a 10-year-old groundnut seller said, there is nothing special about the children day celebration, because it is like a normal day for her to go out to hawk her goods.

“My parents cannot afford to pay for my school fees that is why I am hawking so that we can have something to eat, and buy other important things.

“I have friends who go to school and I wish I have the opportunity to go to school to learn too, ” she said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Joan Nwagwu

Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed food items to no fewer than 1,200 vulnerable, internally displaced and people living with disabilities in Nasarawa State.

Tinubu inaugurated the symbolic distribution of the Food Outreach Scheme for Persons with Disabilities and the vulnerable groups on Tuesday in Lafia.

Represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President, the first lady said that the gesture was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme, as part of the Social Investment Programme.

According to her, the food outreach scheme is specially designed to provide support to the under-privileged in line with the resolve of President Bola Tinubu to leave no one behind.

“This is also to ensure food security and sufficiency in the country.

“Under this scheme, a trailer load of assorted food items is donated to the state government for onward distribution to identified groups,”she said.

She added that the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna and now Nasarawa states have benefited from the scheme under the special programme of RHI.

She, however, said that Benue would be next while other states would also benefit in due course.

The first lady also noted that in addition to the Social Investment Programme, the RHI also has other programmes that focus on health, agriculture, education and economic empowerment to better the lives of people in the country.

She said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with RHI had concluded plans to donate a truck load of fertilisers and bags of rice to each state of the federation.

She added that Nasarawa State would be first to benefit from the collaboration.

“The Renewed Hope Initiative has also graciously approved a grant of N50,000 to 1,000 women in each state as part of our women economic empowerment programme, ”she said.

To the beneficiaries, she assured them of continued support and encouraged them to be steadfast, especially those in vulnerable communities.

She, therefore, commended the state government for their support for the Renewed Hope Initiatives.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed gratitude for the support.

Blessing David, a beneficiary from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, commended the federal government for seeing reasons to extend helping hand to the poor masses.

“Now we have gotten what will sustain us for some time and we appreciate them greatly. May God bless them to do more.

Also, Halima Musa, from Doma Local Government Area, appreciated the federal government for the items.

“I do not have hands, I cannot work, so it has not been easy. I am so happy to be part of those that benefited from these food items.

“I am very happy, God should bless them more for them to remember more people like us,”she said.(NAN)

Edited by Isaac Ukpoju

By Philip Yatai

President Bola Tinubu has approved the request by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to name the Arterial Road N-20 after Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

The Arterial Road N-20 stretched from Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway).

Wike made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, during the inauguration of the road by the President, to celebrate his one year in office.

The minister said: “It is not when somebody dies that we will remember his contributions.

“It is good,  in the lifetime of someone who has contributed to the greatness of this country, to recognise him, rather than waiting for him to die.

“A dead man does not know what happens.

“I will appeal to you sir, to let us recognise one of our own, by naming this road after him. The only Nobel Laureate we have, who has made Nigerians proud in the world.

“I recommend that this road be named, Wole Soyinka Way. In that case, other people will have hope. People like me will have hope that tomorrow they will also recognise me,” Wike  requested

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu approved the Minister’s request to name the road after Soyinka, whom he described as “a famous playwright, novelist and Nobel Prize winner”.

Wike explained that the road was awarded in 2020 at N30.6 billion and had no variation, adding that he had inspected the execution of the road more than 10 times to ensure timely delivery within specifications.

He argued that it would be difficult for any leader to challenge Tinubu’s achievements in FCT, considering the spade of infrastructure and administrative development in the territory in just one year in office.

“It will be difficult for anybody to challenge you in FCT. It will be very difficult.

“I said so because the facts are there; the things are there. It is not about theory; it is about reality,” he said.

Wike, particularly, commended Tinubu for changing the narrative of civil service in FCT.

According to the Minister, with the establishment of FCT Civil Service Commission, workers in FCTA no longer run to the Federal Civil Service Commission, for progression.

“They get promoted on their own. Most of them have never dreamed in their lives that they would reach the peak of their career as head of service and as permanent secretaries.

“Your political will, which you have always shown, has given them hope, and that is why today, if we decide to do something, you will see everybody working together so that we achieve it.”

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that Tinubu’s efforts not only transformed the infrastructural landscape of the city but also laid a foundation for smoother transformation and enhanced connectivity.

“By today’s inauguration, we are invariably creating a safer, more efficient and more sustainable transportation network that benefits everyone in the nation’s capital city.

“May this arterial road serve as pathways to progress, prosperity and unity for generations to come,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) explained that the arterial road N-20 stretches from the Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Airport Expressway (Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway).

Ahmad said that segment that was inaugurated was 3.5km from the Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Ahmadu Bello Way, out of the 5.6-kilometre road from Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Northern Parkway.

He explained that the road was a six-lane dual carriageway, with extensive underground engineering infrastructure services, and streetlights.

He added that there were two interchanges, one at the intersection with the Murtala Mohammed Expressway and the other at Northern Parkway.

Ahmad added that the road crisscrossed two Sector Centre A and B, crossing four Districts at Sector Centre A – Katampe, Jahi, Mabushi and Kado, and crossed Jabi, Utako Daki Biyu, and Wuye Districts at Sector Centre B.

NAN reports that the inauguration of the Arterial N-20 Road was the fifth in a row, beginning with the Southern Parkway named after Bola Tinubu and the commercial operation of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System.

Also inaugurated by the President  were the Wuye Interchange bridge and the Outer Southern Expressway to Ring Road I. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) says no fewer than 600 PwDs have benefitted from the pilot programme of its health Insurance package.

James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the commission gave the figure on Sunday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Lalu also told NAN that the commission was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the training of over 3000 health workers that would  specialise in handling disability related illness.

According to him, the training would come in the second phase of the health insurance intervention programme.

”We have provided health insurance coverage for PwDs in the last two years. We started with 600 beneficiaries.

”We are currently working with the Federal Ministry of Health to improve access to healthcare facilities for PwDs across the federation and we have started the pilot programme with the Maitama district hospital in Abuja.

”We have signed an MoU for the hospital to become a referral centre for PwDs,” he said

Lalu added “‘Our intention is to have, at least, one tertiary hospital in each state of the federation as referral for PwDs,

“We are providing training for the healthcare workers in the hospital on how to handle disability issues and make sure they are disability friendly.

”The training is ongoing at the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and over 3000 health workers have already passed through the training at the moment.

“We are creating awareness on access to healthcare facilities for PwDs”.

On income security for PwDs Lalu said, no fewer than 150  Point of Sale (POS) machines and grants of N100,000 each were distributed to PwDs.

”We have also supported various Associations of PwDs on annual basis with grants to support their advocacy efforts

”We also provided assistive devices to three Nigerian Universities and the Sultanate Council in efforts to use the traditional institutions to create awareness on compliance with accessibility regulations for PwDs.

”The programme is expected to reduce hardship and and improve the health, sanitary conditions of the disability environment,” he said.

Lalu said the programmes were also some of the commitments of the commission to ensure access to public services for PwDs in Nigeria. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Angela Atabo

The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) and National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), have threatened to stop work on major roads due to some crises.

The unions affiliated to the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), represent the senior and junior staff in the construction industry.

The National President of CCESSA, Ayodeji Adeyemo, and the NUCECFWW President Stephen Okoro, at a news conference on the state of the construction industry on Friday in Abuja, raised alarm over the plight of construction workers.

According to Adeyemo, the construction industry is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the Government.

He, however, expressed concern that a lot of workers were being laid off by construction companies and the trend was creating a crisis in the sector.

“About 30,000 workers have lost their jobs and about 52,000 workers may lose their jobs if care is not taken.

“Over 20,000 have already lost their jobs in the last three months and 32,000 will also lose their jobs if the conflicts are not resolved.

“We may have no choice but to stop work on major roads if the trend continues.

“Some of the roads that are affected by the conflicts are roads being handled by major construction companies like RCC, Setraco, Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe, among others.

“They are: Obajana road, Abuja -Kano Road, Bodo-Bonny Road, East-West Road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Zaria-Sokoto Road and Edo-Auchi Road.

“When you sack people with family and other dependents, you are only calling for more insecurity in the country. Nigeria is currently grappling with insecurity, and you can imagine when 52,000 workers are laid off,” he fumed.

Adeyemo said that the unions were also concerned with the disagreement between the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) and the Minister of Works.

According to him, there is a total slowdown in the industry due to disagreement between the contractors handling various civil construction projects for the Federal Government and the ministry of Works.

He said this was because of unilateral imposition of new standard conditions of contracts by the Minister, contrary to the existing conditions as approved by the Bureau of public procurement (BPP).

According to him, this has affected employment in the industry, leading to mass sack of Nigerian workers who are members of our unions.

Adeyemo said the unions have appealed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for a form of bail out to the distressed construction sector rather than any form of conflict.

“We call on the federal government to resolve the conflict in the industry by involving all stakeholders in contract awards.

“These are the Bureau of Public procurement (BPP), Ministry of Justice, Ministry of works, Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), among others.

“We urge the Minister of Works, FOCI and all concerned to amicably resolve the current conflict within 21 days otherwise, the two Unions will be compelled to declare industrial actions in the construction industry.”

The two unions called for an end to banditry, kidnappings and killings that had become so common in the country, urging security agencies to ensure the safety of the members and all Nigerians. NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Angela Atabo

Stakeholders in the engineering sector, have called on the Federal Government to leverage on the Inter-Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) technology to boost food security in Nigeria.

The stakeholders said this at the 4th Engineer Umar Jibrin’s Distinguished Annual Public Lecture with the theme: `Leveraging on Inter-Basin Food Security and Enduring Rural Economics in Nigeria’’.

The lecture was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers on Thursday in Abuja in honour of Umar Jibrin, a renowned engineer who had contributed immensely to the sector.

According to Prof. Abubakar Sadiq, the guest lecturer, IBWT meant the transfer of water from a surplus area to a scarcity area, like transferring water from areas that usually have flooding due to surplus water to areas like lake Chad that is drying up.

Sadiq who is also the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), listed the benefits to IBWT to include: tackling flood, improved crop cultivation resulting in availability of food among others.

“The paper brings out the opportunity Nigeria has, to transfer excess water resources that are becoming a nuisance and resulting in flooding to shortage areas through the IBWT technologies which are being applied by other nations to solve that problem.

“The project has been successfully done in many countries and Nigeria has started developing that concept since 1960 especially to address the issue of Lake Chad which is shrinking.

“This has become the source of the crisis in not only Nigeria, but in the sub regions, which all of us are aware of, in terms of insecurity, biodiversity loss, desertification among others that is making people move from the north to the south.

“Because of that, there is a crisis of resource management, insecurity, displacement of different communities and so on, so we are bringing this to the knowledge of the policymakers that we need to make sure we adopt this technology,” he said.

Abubakar added that the technology when adopted, would be able to recharge the Lake Chad Basin adding that “if we have such opportunity to put water where it’s supposed to be then we can use it to improve our food security in terms of developing the capacity to feed ourselves.’’

The Keynote Speaker, Mr Inuwa Musa, called on the federal government to promote local technologies and key into IBWT technology in the interest of the nation.

“We should look at everything from the perspective of self-interest as a nation and refuse to allow external actors to tell us what is good for Nigeria, because we are the ones who face the problem.

“Clearly, you can see that the shrinking of lake Chad is the root cause of Boko Haram; so cannot continue to look the other way, so the  IBWT  is a win-win solution.

“Since 1995, it’s been predicted that Nigeria cannot feed itself from rainfall alone. The solution is to provide water so that our farmers can continuously produce not just in rainy season.’’

Musa said that was the only way out of poverty and food scarcity.

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, the Chairman of the occasion and President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), said the event was evidence of the commitment of engineers to advance engineering solutions to address critical issues facing Nigeria.

Oguntala, represented by the Deputy President of NSE, Mr Ali Rabiu, said the technology of water transfer would aid to advance the right value chain aimed at sustainable food security and improve the economy.

“This couldn’t be timelier, it is a fundamental pillar of national stability and prosperity and as engineers, we must strive to address the challenges faced in achieving food security and promoting sustainable economies.’’

The National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Mr Virgilus Ezugu, said the event aimed at honouring Umar Jibrin who has mentored younger professionals and inspired many engineers.

“His professional trajectory demonstrates a robust practice that spans all the facets of the profession from technical practice, policy making and management to training and mentoring top class engineers who greatly impacted on national development.’’

Ezugu said the lecture is usually held yearly to address major challenges in the country and the 2024 topic sought to tackle food insecurity and hunger.

He said that the application of engineering and technology in farming and agricultural practice would greatly increase yield and encourage more investment in the critical sector of socio-economic life.

He added that it would also provide the much-needed gainful employment for the teaming youths.

The awardee, Mr Umar Jibrin, a former Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), commended NICE for finding him worthy of recognition and for organising the lecture to honour him.

“This year’s topic on IBWT and the ripple effect on agriculture, irrigation, food security among others, is the most critical topical issue that we can talk about in this country at the moment.

“We intend that after the lecture, we will also have a technical group that will look at the advantages and recommendations that have been put forward.

“We will now interface with policymakers that are unlikely to come on board to be able to take up this issue that has been thrashed, and then we will see how it can be reflected in our governmental affairs.

“This is to make sure that it is cascaded to a level of implementation processes to help the common man,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has named the Southern Parkway, from National Christian Centre to Ring Road I (Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway), after President Bola Tinubu.

Wike announced the honour during the inauguration the road for public use, in Abuja on Tuesday, as part of activities to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office.

He said that development of the Southern Parkway, now Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, at par with the Northern Parkway, was awarded in December 2010 to Setraco Nigeria Ltd. at N16.23 billion.

He added that the cost of the project was later revised to N35.76 billion in March 2021 due to changes in scope and other economic indices.

He explained that the road would provide freeway access and connectivity to the Southern development flank of the city as provided in the Abuja Master Plan.

“I am happy that the project is now completed in line with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of Mr. President, which will enhance traffic circulation around the city centre, thereby, reducing delays in travel time.

“It will also complement the developed portion of the Northern Parkway by easing the traffic congestion experienced in the Southern Districts of Garki, Gudu, and Durumi.

“The road will also accelerate the development of the Southern axis of the city in general, thereby, bringing improved socio-economic benefits to residents and visitors to the city.

“It is in this regard and for many other patriotic persuasions that the FCT Administration hereby humbly resolved that this very important road be named the ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way’,” Wike said.

Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmed, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Territory said that the road was 5.4 km, made up of two main carriageways of four lanes each, and two service carriageways of two lanes each, making a total of 12 lanes.

“It also includes the construction of four interchanges, with eight bridges in addition to other facilities. It traverses the city centre, linking the outer fringes and inner portions of the city expressways.

“It is expected to optimise vehicular movement between developed sectors in the southern part of the city with the Central Area of the federal capital city,” he said.

While inaugurating the road, the highly elated Tinubu thanked Wike, whom he referred to as ‘landlord’ for the honour.

“I will not say that I am surprised. Nyesom Wike, Mr Project, thank you for giving us this hope, and sincere commitment to shared value.

“Well done; as a team leader, you work so hard and tirelessly.

“The changes you made to the FCT – structural and administrative – are yielding results and elevating the hearts of many Nigerians, thank you very much.

Tinubu further said: “Today, we are here to mark a significant milestone in the journey of our nation towards progress and development.

“Once again, our dear landlord, Wike, thank you for bringing life back to our Federal Capital Territory.

“The completion of the Southern Parkway underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as we strive to build a world-class capital city.”

The president said that his administration recognised infrastructure as an enabler of jobs, economic development, and prosperity and expressed confidence of achieving all in no distant time.

He added that the needs of Nigerian citizens were paramount to his administration, “so for making our citizens the central focus of our development, we believe Nigeria will succeed.

“As we formally inaugurated this road, I am greatly honoured, I heard him mentioning my name as the beneficiary.

“Thank you very much. Thank you for being a very good team leader, we all, collectively will not let you down,” Tinubu said. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ejikanmi