Wike directs immediate reconstruction of Dogon Gada bridge – Coordinator

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has given a matching order for the immediate reconstruction of Dogon Gada box culvert in Lokogoma village, Abuja.

Mr Felix Obuah, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, during the 2024 Flood Risk Assessment and Community Awareness Campaign.

The campaign was organised by the FCT Emergency Management Department in collaboration with emergency management stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the culvert was on the access road that linked over 3,000 residents of Lokogoma village, popularly known as Dogon Gada community to Ring Road II.

The FCT Emergency Management Department had on April 7, barricaded the box culvert, which had collapsed, to avert loss of lives.

The community loses their loved ones to flooding while trying to cross the culvert during the rainy season, due to its low elevation and prone to flooding.

Obuah said that the construction of the bridge would commence immediately after the engineering department concluded their structural designs and other technical requirements.

He assured the community that FEMD was taking necessary action to ensure that no life was lost to flooding in FCT throughout the 2024 rainy season.

“The minister has given a matching order that the construction of the bride should commence with immediate effect.

“As I speak to you, any moment from now work will commence. The engineering process has begun already for the speedy construction of the bridge,” he said.

The coordinator pointed out that human action has an impact on the environment, exposing it to varying degrees of flood risk.

He explained that the exercise was a preparedness and awareness campaign to sensitise residents against actions that would predispose communities to flood.

“I assured FCT residents that with the proactive measure being taken by FEMD and other stakeholders, no life will be lost in 2024 to flooding in 2024.

“We must, therefore, continue to strengthen our collaboration towards flood prevention and mitigation,” Obuah said.

Earlier, acting Director-General, FEMD, Mr Mohammed Sabo, said that the flood risk assessment and awareness campaign was part of strategies to strengthen disaster risk reduction.

Sabo said that other flood prone communities would also be sensitised to mobilise residents to take proactive steps towards preventing loss of lives to flood.

He added that the flood risk assessment would enable FEMD to assess interventions that worked and areas that need additional interventions to prevent flooding.

Also, Mr Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, said that the bridge had taken many lives over the years during the rainy season.

Wenegiene explained that the people were killed by the flood because they tried to cross the flooded bridge against warnings by FEMD and local divers stationed at the bridge.

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, thanked Wike for the prompt intervention to prevent more people from dying from flooding along the bridge.

He said that the distance from the community to Ring Road II was 800 metres, but the residents had to travel five to six kilometres through alternative routes to get to the ring road.

The leader of the community, Mr Irimiya Kanpani, who could not hide his excitement over the minister’s approval for the recommendation of the collapsed bridge described it as a huge relief,

“Now I can go to sleep knowing that the minister will fulfil his promise and my people will be safe. All I can say is thank you,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

NBC records significant progress in boundary demarcation under Tinubu

By Philip Yatai

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) says it has advanced the course of definition and demarcation of about 15 interstate boundaries in the last one year.

The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja,while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in boundary management after one year in office.

According to Adaji, NBC recorded significant progress in defining and demarcating interstate and international boundaries under President Bola Tinubu-led administration.l

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  that the commission carried out joint meetings of officials, some field investigations and even attempted to demarcate some of the boundaries.

“For those that are yet to be resolved, we are engaging the parties to see how we can resolve them.

“The resolution processes entail physical field exercises, going to trace the boundaries alongside the people or parties concerned,” he said.

At the international level, the DG said that similar feats had been recorded in addressing boundary disputes between the country and her neighbours.

He said the commission had made progress, particularly, in the implementation of the rulings of the International Court of Justice on Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Previously, the Commission had placed about 1,200 pillars along the boundary in strict adherence to the rulings of the International Court of Justice.

“In the last one year, we’ve been able to add about 500 more pillars.

“In the case of Nigeria and Niger, which is a very peaceful boundary, we’ve been able to collaborate with our Nigerien counterpart to erect more pillars to make the boundary more visible.

“This is a boundary that is about 1,500kms in length, but, has only 148 pillars that had been put in place by the colonial masters. You can imagine just 148 pillars covering a stretch of 1,500 km.

“So, we have been able to place about 200 more intermediate pillars in between these main pillars.

“In fact, just last week, we went to sensitise the border communities in Jigawa state to the need to prepare for the placement of 40 more intermediate pillars along the border,” he added.

For Nigeria and Benin Republic border,  Adaji said the boundary had been dormant, which necessitated the commission to reactivate discussions with Benin government, last year.

He said that officials from the two countries had met and agreed to continue with the resolution process.

“I think in about a week or two, we will be going to Cotonou to inaugurate a committee that will search for relevant documents to resolve the outstanding grey areas.

“We have grey areas in the Ogun state section and of course the northern part, where issues of the exactness of the instrument to use, are still being contested by the two countries.

“But, the good thing is that, we have been able to activate discussions. We even had a kind of memorandum of understanding to create cross-border cooperation.

 “The agreement to that effect has been signed by the two countries.

“It was initiated last year, and just recently, we both signed the agreement to formalise the promotion of cross-border cooperation,” he said.

On the border with Ghana, Abaji said the Commission has been able to, reopen discussions towards defining the maritime boundaries

He attributed the success so far recorded to the commitment of the Tinubu-led government in the pursuit of his eight-point agenda to renew the hope of the citizens.

He said: “I think, largely, we will credit the commitment of the government to the promotion of enhanced security.

“The Tinubu’s administration is supporting agencies like the National Boundary Commission, whose activities border on the promotion of security.

“We have improvement in our budget provision.

“Though we can’t say it’s enough, but at least, there is great improvement and that has been able to spur us to carry out some activities that, ordinarily, it would have taken longer time to carry out.

“With that encouragement, I think the states are also keying into this renewed hope agenda of the federal government.

“They are beginning to cooperate more and to give boundary activities priority attention,” Adaji said.

Speaking on n challenges, the DG said that boundary management was capital intensive, adding that non-establishment of State and Local Government Boundary Committees in some of the states and local government councils was equally a challenge.

He said discussions were ongoing to encourage the state and local councils to not only establishe the committees, but make them functional.

He also said that going forward, the commission would strengthen cross border cooperation, including constructing a shared infrastructure to encourage peaceful coexistence among border communities. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Minister tasks FCTA workers on intellectual development for improved productivity

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mamoud, has advised workers in FCT Administration to invest in intellectual development for improved productivity.

The minister gave the advice in Abuja on Monday, at the maiden edition of the FCTA’ maiden Book Exhibition, organised by the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RC&SI).

Mahmoud, who was represented by Hajiya Asma’u Mukhtar, Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, said that the move would translate to sustainable growth and development of the territory.

The minister identifying books as windows to the world, offering insights, knowledge, and perspectives that transcend boundaries and time, stressed the importance of continuous learning for self-development.

She called on the FCTA workers to equip themselves with the necessary tools and knowledge to enable them navigate complex challenges.

This, she said, would enhance FCA’s commitment to providing quality services to the residents of the territory.

“This book exhibition serves as a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of learning and growth within our administrative framework.

“It is a reflection of our belief that investing in the intellectual development of our staff is not just a noble endeavour, but a strategic one.

“The diverse array of books on display covers a wide spectrum of subjects, ranging from public administration and governance to urban planning, sustainability, economics, and beyond.

“Each volume holds within its pages the potential to inspire, educate, and empower us to become better leaders, decision-makers, and agents of positive change,” she said.

In his remarks, the Head of Civil Service, FCTA, Dr Udo Attang, said that books have always been a cornerstone of knowledge and wisdom.

Attang, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Mr Adetoyi Kolawale, argued that reading books would help in shaping and reshaping workers’ minds and skills, and impact on their productivity.

The head of service said that the theme, “Enhancing Intellectual Capacity for Effective Service Delivery”, underscores the critical link between knowledge and performance.

“As public servants, educators, and community leaders, we understand that the quality of our service delivery is directly proportional to the depth of our understanding and the breadth of our skills.

“Intellectual capacity is not merely about acquiring information; it is about nurturing the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make informed decisions that benefit our communities,” he said.

He thanked the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Mahmoud for their tireless support towards building a productive workforce for the FCT.

Earlier, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, the acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvements, explained that the exhibition was organised to promote professionalism among workers.

Ahmadu said that the effort was in line with the 6th Pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025.

According to her, investing in the intellectual development of workers will not only enrich the workers, but also enhance their value as individuals and impact FCTA in the long run.

“By embracing life-long learning, we equip ourselves with the tools necessary to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Angela Atabo

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) will partner on processing of raw materials to meet standardisation for engineering and industrial use.

COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this during a courtesy call on Mr Emmanuel Kwaya, the Director-General, RMRDC, on Thursday in Abuja.

Abubakar said that the move was necessary to ensure that operational and production processes were reliable and consistent through standardisation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that standardisation is an approach to production that ensures consistency in manufacturing processes to finished products.

It requires adhering to industry standards and certification requirements.

The COREN president said that the collaboration with RMRDC also sought to establish an inventory of engineering-based organisations involved in exploring, acquisition and development into commodities and products for import substitution and export promotion.

He added that the council was seeking partnership with relevant stakeholders in terms of regulating registered and licensed practitioners involved in design and technology development for processing raw materials into products.

”Coming together to address challenges in the sector, to me , is one of the most effective ways to break the silos.

“So let us have a hand shake; form a committee and carefully sit down to develop the terms of reference for the standing committee.

”This is because associations like engineers, technicians, craftsmen, artisans among others really need to come closer to see how we can promote this issue of materials.

”Collaborations are also necessary in various areas like accreditation and licensing of laboratories involved in analysis and certification of raw materials for industrial use.

”Championing the development of codes and standards that will promote the commercialisation and uptake of machineries for processing and value addition of raw materials into commodities and products is also key,’’ he said.

Abubakar said that enhanced synergy with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective raw materials exploration, acquisition, exploitation and development was important.

He added that partnering with relevant agencies in  patenting, registration, upscaling, commercialisation and up-taking of products generated from raw material was another way of improving standards.

On his part, Kwaya said the council’s doors were open for collaborations that would help Nigeria achieve her industrial goals.

He commended COREN as a regulatory body for being alive to its responsibility of sanitising the sector.

Kwaya said that the council had a proven track record of fostering technological advancements through various programmes like engineering competitions, skills, setting up engineering teams to design software, applications development, and design initiatives.

”So COREN will be a very welcome partner in this regard; we are willing to collaborate to take these areas to a new level.

”One of the requests we are making to some of our colleagues in other institutions of engineering is that  most often when there are programmes we give them requests to assist in one way or the other.”

He said that engineers were needed to synergise to put teams together to solve some of the national problems and add value to Nigeria’s raw material.

According to him, some materials in the country are only unique to Nigeria and cannot  be found anywhere else.

”There are crops we have in Africa that we don’t have anywhere else like acha and others; so we can’t leave the work to strangers because they will not be able to develop something from what they do not know.

”So there is a lot we need to do taking our colleagues in order to arrange institutions along, so that when they come up with project proposals we can support them without a headache.

”That way we will be solving our problems in this country and the institutions will be better funded; so it is a win-win for all of us,’’ he said

The director-general encouraged stakeholders to look inward to solve the nation’s problems.

He added that such an attitude would prove to the government that Nigerian engineers were equal to the task of carrying out designs and implementing them for national development like their counterparts in other climes. (NAN)

Edited by Deborah Coker and Chijioke OKoronkwo

By Angela Atabo

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has conferred its fellowship on 63 engineers across various sectors in Nigeria.

Its President, Margaret Oguntala, conferred the fellowship on them at the Society’s Special Dinner on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oguntala, in a remark, said that the conferees had made exceptional contributions to the field of engineering, and urged them to continue to adhere to the codes and ethics of the profession.

She said they had been at the forefront in the drive for progress and development across various sectors including infrastructure, energy, healthcare, information technology, among others.

She also said they had overcome challenges and pioneered solutions with their unwavering commitment to excellence, tireless pursuit of knowledge and dedication to the advancement of the profession.

“Each fellow being conferred represents the epitome of engineering excellence and serves as an inspiration to us all.

“As we celebrate, we must acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace driven by technological advancements and societal changes.

“As engineers, it is our responsibility to adapt to these changes, to embrace innovation and to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”

Oguntala called on the conferees to remain steadfast in NSE’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the profession.

According to her, engineering is a collaborative endeavour that thrives on the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

“By fostering an environment that values and respects diversity, we not only enrich our profession, but also ensure that our solutions are equitable and sustainable.

“Undoubtedly, the expectations of NSE and the larger society from our honourable conferees are high, with regards to the strict adherence to professional codes and ethics.”

Oguntala said the NSE reserved the right to revoke and withdraw the Fellowship certificate of any member enmeshed in breaches, if such breaches are brought to the notice of the NSE.

She added that the conferment of fellowship was an opportunity to be of greater service to NSE by supporting its projects and programmes and providing mentorship to our young engineers.

She charged them to continue to prove themselves as worthy ambassadors of the NSE.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Fellows, Kamila Maliki, congratulated the conferees for their exceptional and extraordinary prowess in the engineering field.

Maliki said that the conferment of the fellowship by NSE represented the pinnacle of achievement for any engineer, and urged them to use their ideas to contribute to the infrastructure and economic development of Nigeria.

Responding on behalf of the conferees, James Arukhe commended the NSE for counting them worthy of the fellowship.

Arukhe said that engineers held the keys to driving the society forward through innovative solutions.

He pledged the commitment of the conferees towards upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity of the profession.

“There will be no need to withdraw the fellowship from any of us; no form of wrong doing shall be found among us,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin