Miners Association of Nigeria says the Federal Government has agreed to involve its executives in the disbursement of the N5billion mining intervention fund.
President of the association, Sani Shehu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
He said this measure by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) would enhance the effectiveness of the disbursement to genuine miners across the country.
NAN recalls that the miners executives have complained of not having access to the fund due to stringent conditions by Bank of Industry (BoI) saddled with the disbursement of the fund.
The MMSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BoI in August 2017 to give N5billion intervention fund to Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners across the country.
The intervention fund was a joint venture between the BoI that provided N2.5billion and MMSD that provided another N2.5billion.
This effort was a plan by the Federal Government through the MMSD to rejuvenate the mining sector as a means of economic diversification.
The loans would be available to certified mining industry participants at a single digit interest rate of five per cent per annum.
The aim of the intervention was to address lack of fund which was a major factor militating against artisanal and small scale miners operations.
He said that the ministry had also discovered some reasons why miners were not able to access the fund.
“Government has given us the opportunity to be involved, identify and also to guarantee our members to access the fund.
“We are happy with this arrangement, we will soon come up with a tripartite arrangement with the ministry and Bank of Industry which the fund is domiciled with to ensure miners access the funds on time,” he said.
According to Shehu, all conditions required for accessing the fund remains valid, adding that the association would now serve as guarantor for its members.
“We will put mechanism in place to assess and guarantee our members that are worthy of the loan to avoid the association’s name being tarnished.
Founder and President of the Living Faith Church worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo
Founder and President of the Living Faith Church worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo
The founder and President of the Living Faith Church worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has again warned Nigerians and politicians over the unending killings of innocent Nigerians.
Oyedepo gave this warning in a satellite telecast of the church’s prayer session for the nation monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
The Bishop, while urging politicians to repent and have value for the lives of citizens, said if they do not repent after this warning, they would fall down for the sake of the nation.
“Politicians be warned, whether in power or not in power. There is no day Nigeria will become an Islamic nation and this nation will remain one nation.
“Allow the Christians to go to church, allowthe Muslims go to their mosque and let the traditional worshippers do their thing.
“God is giving Nigeria peace by all means, the peace of those promoting this wickedness, God is taking away, if they refuse to repent. Their supplies shall dry up because Nigeria shall not see war.
He said that every leader is just a caretaker and God remains the creator and owner of every Nation including Nigeria.
He added that Nigeria would have peace when they understand that God is in control of everything including the land.
“ When a caretaker start behaving like a landlord he will be removed. God is the permanent landlord of the earth.
“The God of heaven has given you authority and power. He has given you might and glory. Pride makes us think that we do not need God. Pride separates us from God. Nebuchadnezzar did not give credit to God, and God had enough.
“God had warned Nebuchadnezzar and had been very patient with him. But finally, the prophecy came true. All of the things that he was so proud of were taken away.
“Nebuchadnezzar had to eat grass just like the goats and cows! He was used to living in a grand palace, but now he had no shelter over his head; For 7 years, the great King Nebuchadnezzar lived out there in the wilderness like an animal.
“He lost his mind; he became crazy without God, he was helpless because he refused to listen to the warning from the Lord,” he said.
According to Bishop, God’s dominion is everlasting to everlasting and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
“ Politicians are not extraordinary people, they only have grace, if they don’t harken to this warning of the Lord they will suffer disgrace.
“Too many arrogant foes, who pose to own this nation, be warned because the day of God’s judgement is here.
“ God enthrones kings and removes kings,” he added.
Oyedepo cursed the killers ofthe First Class Chief in Kaduna State, the Agom Adara, His Royal Highness Maiwada Galadima, who was kidnapped and later found dead.
He described those behind the cruel act as enemies of humanity and the Almighty God.
“All those involved in the killing of Galadima and his aides! Their generation will be forgotten. Everyone of the perpetrators they will end up in shame.
“Everyone that won’t let the Church rest. Everyone that won’t let the nation rest. Their rest is taken from them. (1 Chronicles 20:12,23-24). In the name of Jesus, this gangup against the nation will fail.
“I have said it before, if you are not angry with the wicked, you are wicked. God is angry with the wicked everyday,” he said.
Oyedepo enjoined Christians be involved in fostering the present revival of the nation by God through their prayers and evangelism, saying that they are entitled to rewards from the Lord.
The Church had embarked on seven days prayer and fasting for the nation, which ended on Sunday.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said that the nation’s debt was $73 billion, a $10 billion increment from $63 billion the present administration inherited in 2015.
He made the disclosure in Ibadan on Saturday during the 9th Public Lecture of Sigma Club at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Osinbajo delivered a lecture entitled ‘Developing the Nation Through Youth Empowerment.’
“In 2010 our debt was $35 billion, $41 billion in 2011, $48 billion in 2012, $64 billion in 2013, $67.7 billion in 2014, $63.8 billion in 2015, $57.8 billion in 2016, $70 billion in 2017 and $73 billion in 2018.
“The nation’s debt as at today was $73 bilłion, an increment of $10 billion from the $63 billion inherited in 2015,” he said.
Osinbajo revealed that from oil, the nation earned $119.8 billion from 1990 to 1998, $481 billion from 1999 to 2009 and $381 billion from 2010 to 2014, while present administration has only earned $112 billion from June 2015.
“The earnings from oil from 2010 to 2014 were the highest recorded in the history of the country. This is a period when the price of oil per barrel sold from $100 to $114.
He said that the most important drain on the nation’s public purse was grand corruption, saying the nation would earn more revenue if such was addressed.
“In a 2015 transaction met by this administration, a sum of $67 million was made without a purpose for it. So also is another $292 million,” he said.
The Vice President also listed lack of commitment to diversification of the economy as one of the problems which affected the economy.
On restructuring, Osinbajo said that some of those clamouring for it were those who opposed their efforts on restructuring years back when they were in government.
“Let me explain my position clearly. I am not just an advocate of restructuring, there is no other government in Nigeria that has actively pursued restructuring such as we did when I was Attorney General in Lagos State.
“People talking about restructuring, if you ask them what they meant by restructuring? They won’t even know what it means and that is the problem we have to face,” he said.
The vice president narrated how he pursued issues of restructuring to the Supreme Court when he was the Attorney General in Lagos State.
According to him, “We started with fiscal restructuring, which is more of resource control. Should states control their own resources? We went to the Supreme Court. They argued that each state should control its own resources.”
“The states that argued in favour of autonomy for states to control their resources were the oil producing states in the country and Lagos State, while some others argued on the other side because they want to share oil money.
“We lost at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said no, that you cannot control your resources. If you are an oil producing state, take 13 per cent extra, which is derivation.”
He said that Lagos State further argued that it had ports and the ports served the entire nation, so the state should also take 13 per cent derivation which the Supreme Court objected.
Osinbajo said that further argument led to the introduction of onshore and offshore law, which enabled the state to share from onshore resources.
“All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, including the presidential candidate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring, was the vice president then.
“They opposed every step we took. Of course, we were taking the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step.
“The next thing we did was that the states should be able to create their own local governments, which is autonomy of states.
“So, we created 37 new local governments in Lagos. The president then, Chief Obasanjo, seized our local government funds and said we could not create new local governments,” he said.
He also narrated how they challenged the seizure at the Supreme Court and the court ruled in their favour.
“If you ask those people now talking about restructuring, none of them has done anything compared to what we have done. So, I am not a latter day convert to restructuring.
“I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring,” Osinbajo added.
The Nigerian Military and members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria in a clash in Zaria, Dec 2015
Military authorities in Nigeria said on Sunday that Troops of its Headquarters Garrison on official duty escorting ammunition and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked on Saturday by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect.
It says, the incident occurred at Zuba bridge, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3:00pm.
A statement by the Military said the sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal road block denying motorists free passage and that when the troops’ convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect.
Members of the sect, the military said, used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items in which they smashed both military and civilian vehicles’ windscreens and windows.
“They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoy’s rescue.
“Unfortunately, during the encounter, 3 members of the sect were killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility.
“Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored in the general area and members of the public especially those plying the Abuja – Zuba Road are requested to go about with their normal activities with the assurance from the Nigerian Army that no individual or persons would be allowed to disturb public peace and unprovoked attacks against military convoy.
The Islamic Sect Statement
But a statement by President, Media Forum of the Islamic sect, Ibrahim Musa on Saturday, which condemned the action of the security agents said, 4 of its members had been killed by the military in the same clash.
“The army went away with the corpse of three of the victims, but the other victim’s corpse has been identified as Abdul’aziz Maigana, who until his demise was with the members of the Islamic Movement in Suleja.
The statement further added, “In fact it was being rounded up for the day, when soldiers opened fire on the peaceful marchers without any provocation whatsoever.”
“The fact that a similar Arba’een march was conducted in Kano along the Kano-Zaria highway for two days without any incident, is enough a pointer to the peaceful nature of the annual religious rites. Similar Arba’een mourning processions are currently ongoing in Katsina and Kaduna states without any incident,” according to the press statement.
The Islamic Movement then cautioned the security agents to stop harassing its members, “since today is just the beginning of the peaceful mourning march on foot, and it is expected that more people may join the mass peaceful march, which will culminate in the grand Arba’een day, to be marked on Tuesday, 30 October, 2018, the same day it would be commemorated worldwide.”
“If the security agents are trigger happy, then they should save their arms and bullets to other parts of the country engulfed in violence, but not on peaceful marchers carrying no arms with them,” according to the press statement.
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and Commissions to commence online registration for 2019 intending pilgrims.
The Head, Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Fatima Usara, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
She stated that NAHCON gave the directives during post Hajj joint meeting with chief executives of the boards and agencies on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018.
She noted that the meeting reviewed salient challenges faced during the 2018 Hajj, with a view to finding solutions to them.
She explained that late registration of pilgrims was identified as a major setback in the success of the 2018 Hajj operations, hence, it was resolved that all state welfare boards should commence online registration of intending pilgrims.
Usara noted that the meeting agreed to tentatively peg the 2019 Hajj fare at N1.5 million, pending final calculation of the total fare.
She added that “it was agreed that installment payments should be concluded by Feb. 2019.
“Intending pilgrims are to note that Hajj registration is to be done online, cost of which is N500, and these charges are already included in the total fare.
“No extra amount is to be charged for purchase of Hajj form because the form is obsolete.”
She said that the meeting also resolved that as part of measures to safeguard timely planning, state welfare boards should propose tentative dates for transportation of their pilgrims and submit such resolutions to NAHCON within 30 days from date of the meeting.
She noted that some State chief Executives who spoke on accommodation challenges had commended the Madinah pilgrims’ accommodation and appealed to NAHCON to sustain the feat.
On the issue of catering services, Usara stated that it was agreed that each state should negotiate feeding of pilgrims directly with the caterers and bypass any intermediary in the name of agents.
She said that state pilgrims boards were also counseled to look at the possibility of exporting and supplying the caterers with Nigerian variety of foodstuff to be used in preparing Nigerian pilgrims’ meals.
She explained that “doing this will form part of revenue generation avenue for the states.
“However, such export must be done strictly under Saudi Arabian guidelines and permit.”
She said that all state boards would join hands with NAHCON and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in ending cases of pilgrims absconding during Hajj and Umrah, which nevertheless had been on the decline in recent years.
Usara assured that NAHCON would ensure that all Umrah and Hajj applicants returned within the stipulated time on their visas.
The Federal Government would deliver about 3.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to bridge the medium-term supply gap by 2020.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, gave the assurance on Saturday at the 2018 Graduation of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta.
The minister, who was represented at the event by Mr Idang Alibi, Media Officer of the ministry, said that Federal Government had decided to invest in the Seven Critical Gas Development Projects to achieve the feat in 2020.
He said that the government had commenced utilisation and monetisation of the abundant gas resources of the country.
“The Federal Government has doubled her efforts in providing effective policies that will drive gas utilisation and commercialisation.
“We have decided to invest in the Seven Critical Gas Development Projects in Nigeria. These projects will deliver about 3.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to bridge the medium-term supply gap by 2020.
“Also, Federal Government is increasing attention to the eradication of gas flaring, utilisation and monetisation of the abundant gas resources of the country.
“This is in realisation of the place of natural gas as the energy of the future, although, it is not yet Uhuru as a substantial quantity of this precious resource is still being wasted through routine flaring,” he said.
Kachikwu said that two out of the 38 approved modular refineries would be inaugurated in December, 2018, one in Delta and the other in Rivers, to boost fuel supply in the country.
He also said that the government had set up a Steering Technical Committee to reposition PTI to take additional responsibilities toward meeting the targets for local content development in the oil and gas industry.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the PTI School of Diving should be upgraded to international standards. Efforts are ongoing to actualise the directives,” he said.
The Principal of PTI, Prof. Sunny Iyuke, said the institution would continue to deliver on its mandate as contained in the Act establishing it.
“I want to assure you that the Institute is on course to becoming the hub of human capacity development and contributing significantly to the Nigerian content in the petroleum industry,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,086 graduands in the 2016/2017 academic session were awarded Higher National Diploma (HND), National Diploma (ND) and PTI General Welding Certificates.
A total of 637 graduated at HND level, 400 at ND level and 47 received the General Welding Certificate.
The U.S. Government on Saturday, advised Nigerians to explore the importance of photography.
Mr Russel Brooks, Public Relations Officer, United States Consulate General, gave the advice during the 2018 Lagos Photo Festival.
The festival took place at African Artists’ Foundation at Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that partaking in photography could help in boosting the country’s image to the international community.
“Photography is very essential in our daily activities and Nigerians must explore the importance of this as the world had evolved.
“By showcasing the various cultures and unique things that the country has, it would help in boosting its image and showcasing the unique culture of the country.
“Nigerians must take advantage of this because photography is a vital part of the world and they must partake in it,’’ Brooks said.
He said that the festival would help foster better understanding between the U. S. and Nigeria.
“The festival would help to boost the understanding between both countries and human capital must be shared.
“One of the way of doing that is through this photo festival.
“Also, the festival would show the unique beauty of this country and to give Nigerians the opportunity to see the essence of photography, ‘’ Brooks said.
He said that the U.S. would also initiate programmes that would help the people in the country.
Mr Azu Nwagbogu, Director, African Artists Foundation, said that photography was a time capsule that could stand the test of time.
“Photos capture the moment and ensure that that moment is cherished for a lifetime; so taking photos is really important.
“The festival is to display the various places and landscapes of the country and to show the world that Nigeria has unique places.
“It would also help to dispel some of the negativity that is attached to the country,’’ Nwagbogu said.
Mrs Roselyn Thomas, a Tourist from the U.S., told NAN that Nigerians had great talents.
“Nigerians are great people with great talents and all these photo exhibitions just go to show that.
“I’m amazed with what I’m seeing today. Its amazing and awesome, ‘’ she said.
NAN reports that 22 artists participated in this year’s edition with over 42 works showcased during the festival.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has commended Coca Cola Nigeria’s Safe Birth Initiative (SBI), saying it is a laudable project toward achieving reduction in the country’s high maternal mortality indices.
Adewole, represented by Dr Adedamola Dada, Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebutte-Meta, Lagos, said this at a stakeholders workshop on Saturday in Lagos with theme: “Enabling Safe Birth in Nigeria’’.
The event was organised by the SBI sponsored by Coca-Cola, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals and an NGO, Medshare International Inc.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that according to the National Demography and Health Survey (NDHS, 2013), Nigeria loses as many as 576 women per 100,000 childbirths.
Also, the country records 37 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births, placing the country among the worst ratios for both maternal and newborn deaths globally.
Consequently, the Safe Birth Initiative, aims to support the attainment of the SDG targets on maternal and newborn deaths reduction.
It focuses on strengthening the capacity of selected public hospitals through procurement of vital maternal and neonatal medical equipment and supplies.
It also focuses on training biomedical engineering technicians to improve equipment maintenance and uptime and reactivating a large stock of abandoned medical equipment wasting away in public hospitals.
Adewole said: “We have always believed that our healthcare would improve with active collaboration and partnership from the private sector.
“The Safe Birth Initiative is a good example of such a partnership.
“Meticulous planning and identification of the needs of the beneficiary hospitals have been carried out with active involvement of partners and beneficiaries.
“We commend our partners on this programme, Coca-Cola, the SDG Office, Medshare International and the Engineering World Health, and use this opportunity to call on other private sector players to join us in this battle to free our nation from diseases and major challenges in maternal and childhood health,’’ he said.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that the Coca-Cola Safe Birth Initiative is working toward the third Sustainable Development Goal – Health and Wellbeing for all, including our mothers and our children.
Orelope-Adefulire, represented by Dr Bala Yusuf, said: “This partnership is a classic example of what we can do when we combine our expertise and resources in support of the 2030 SDG agenda.
“We hope this event will strengthen our resolve to continue to work together as policy makers, development practitioners, academics, but more importantly as concerned citizens, in support of the 2030 agenda of the sustainable development goals,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Mr Clem Ugorji, the Public Affairs and Communications Director for Coca-Cola West Africa, shared highlights of the SBI rationale and implementation plan.
According to him, “In addition to completing the first batch of the biomedical engineering technicians training, the consignment of equipment and supplies required for the National Hospital, Abuja, has been fully delivered.
“The consignments for Federal Medical Centres in Ebute-Metta and Owerri and General Hospital, Alimosho, Lagos, are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks.
“The needs assessments are ongoing at six other approved hospitals to determine their specific needs,’’ he said.
Ugorji said that Coca-Cola’s commitment goes beyond donating equipment.
“Through the SBI, the company hopes to promote effective maintenance culture by empowering biomedical engineering technicians with the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence to take responsibility for ensuring maximum uptime for the new equipment.
“It also aims to empower them on reactivation of abandoned biomedical equipment in the target hospitals.
“There is a limit to what our doctors and nurses can do with just their skills and passion, in the absence of the vital life-saving equipment required for effective diagnosis, testing and treatment,” Ugorji said.
NAN reports that the workshop also marked the completion of the maiden SBI capacity training for 20 biomedical engineering technicians from 10 leading medical institutions across the country.
The institutions comprise university hospitals, federal medical centres and general hospitals.
The two-week training was conducted by US-based Engineering World Health (EWH) at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The workshop also had a panel discussion session that shed light on the challenges of maternal and newborn healthcare in the country; the national SDG targets on maternal and child health.
It also discussed the measures government is taking to meet these targets, as well as how the SBI will support these measures.
The discussants included Prof. Chinyere Ezeaka, Past President, Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine, Dada, Bala and Ugorji.
Others present were Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Editor, Today’s Woman; Prof. Carmen Walker, Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria BMET Programme, Engineering World Health, and Mr Eben Amstrong, Director of Biomedical Engineering Training and Technical Service, Medshare International.
The official launch of the Safe Birth Initiative and inauguration of the first set of SBI equipment in the country would be performed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the National Hospital in Abuja next week. (NAN)
