Author Archives: daudupress

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the newly appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has been advised to beam a searchlight on the activities of some of the top official of the Federal Capital Territory if they are still desirous in attracting Nigerians in Diaspora to invest in the country particularly in the Capital Territory.

This was the assertion of two aggrieved Nigerians, Otumba Olusegun Olarewanju, CEO platinum parking management, and Iliyasu Abdu, the MD/CEO Integrated Parking Managers who claimed to be the owners and initiators of the recently reintroduced Abuja Park and pay project but were unceremoniously pushed aside in the new arrangement by the Adesola Olusade led leadership of the Federal Capital Territory.

Our correspondent was reliably informed that the immediate past Minister had advised the Permanent Secretary when he was handing over to ensure that the two pioneer companies be given first right of refusal to avoid injustice before awarding the project in order not to exhibit the attitude of impunity thereby causing further anarchy.

But no sooner had the former minister handed over to the Permanent Secretary and his senior civil servant colleagues, they took advantage and was said to have quickly rushed to bring their proxies to snatch the idea and concepts of the original initiators who deserve first right of refusal.

Recall also that there is still a subsisting court judgment mandating FCTA to pay the damage as penalty for illegally truncating the two companies that suffered severe lost of fund due to the abrupt disengagement of the two companies.

Meanwhile, narrating their ordeal in the hands of these top FCTA officials they explained how they were brought back to the country by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, and how they put all the structure for the On- street parking management in place.

“At the onset of democracy in 1999, the then President Olusegun Obasanjor invited people in Diaspora when we tried to romance with his government. He said we should come back home, bring all our ideas, and come and invest in the country. This gingered us to come back home, and looking at the esthetics, the design, and the road network of Abuja, we came on board that we could do ‘On street Parking management’ on the streets of Abuja in other to generate revenue for the FCT and also to create massive employment for the teaming youths of Nigeria. And we also had it in mind that one day the influx of vehicular movement in Abuja city will be uncontrollable. So, in other to have a plan in place was what necessitated us coming up with ‘On street parking’ project in the street of Abuja.

“And we came with everything, we came with all our technical partners, we set it up, we did everything, and we tendered for the project. The FCT Minister later set up a technical committee to look into the proposal and here we are, we signed an agreement with them in 2010. When we started we put the entire infrastructure in place, all the street infrastructure we put in place, synergies or what have you. We did all the line marking in all the roads of Abuja. I and my PPMS went back abroad and brought technical partners to set up all these infrastructures. We engaged thousands of Nigerians. My company engaged over four hundred and fifty of direct and indirect labour to start the project, same with my friend. We brought state-of-the-art applications to manage the projects and start setting everything up, until one day we saw two companies that took over the street of Abuja saying the Minister said they should drive us away from the streets.

“And then these people took over the streets, and then mayhem started; chaos, and pandemonium on the streets of Abuja. This was what led to Justice Peter Afe to place a suspension on the project abi nitio, because people sued us to court, they sued one of the illegal operators in court. And when they suspended us they told FCT to go and get a proper traffic law to support the project,” Otumba Olarewanju said.

On what really is their demand from the Federal Capital Territory Authorities leadership, the second partner, Iliyasu said, “Our demand is that first and foremost our original spots, which mine was zone A should be given back to me while PPMS is their zone B. Our next demand is that our arbitration judiciary award should be paid because we have debtors on our neck, most of the money we used in rolling out; this is almost ten years now. The money has not been serviced, debtors are on our neck. So, we needed money to pay them, and the remaining one we can reinvest back on the street of Abuja.

“This is because as pioneers, and in the agreement we had with FCDA we have the right of first refusal. It’s in the agreement, and that agreement has been certified by a court of competent jurisdiction, so our agreement is valid and subsisting and anything contrary to that is against the law. And number two, the arbitrary award is a legal thing that nobody can wish away except the court of competent jurisdiction. Since they have gone to the High Court, the high court could not set it aside; the Court of Appeal court did not set it aside, and even the Supreme Court will not set it aside because arbitration has a time limit. If you cannot do anything within those ninety days that means it’s only God that can intervene,” he stated.

By Emmanuel Daudu

The safety of the Nigerian air space has received a boost as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian airspace management agency (NAMA) in line with their inter-agency collaboration agenda today in Abuja entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement and renewed partnership to promote air safety.

According to the Senior Public Affairs Officer, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Olakangudu Olayinka Yusuf, in a press release he signed on Tuesday and made available to Africa Security Investigation News, disclosed that the main purpose of the agreement was to consolidate the existing relationship between NSIB and NAMA on the exchange of information, and data sharing during occurrences, among others, that can help in the quality and timeliness of investigation of air mishaps in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO Annex 13 and 19 of the 1994 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Olakangudu said the MoU was the flexibility in all transactions with the mutual agreement of both agencies, upholding the values of cooperation, honesty, mutual respect, openness, and professionalism.

NSIB and NAMA while signing the deal noted that though the MoU is not legally binding, but the two agencies however agreed to perform their respective functions in a manner consistent with the values and principles of the agreement.

The signing of the agreement, which took place at the NSIB Abuja headquarters had the Bureau Director General, Engr. Akin Olateru signed on behalf of NSIB, while NAMA Managing Director/ CEO Engr. Odunowo Tayib Mohammed, put pen on paper for his Agency.

The NSIB recently signed a MoU with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on cooperation during emergencies even as the agency has signed similar agreements with various agencies and institutions within and outside the country.
Said Olateru, “Collaboration remains the centre point of our drive towards enthroning safety in the aviation industry. We remain committed to promoting safety in the aviation industry to the point of attaining and maintaining zero accidents.”
He added: “We, however, cannot do it alone. That is why we have chosen the path of collaboration with agencies and institutions with similar objectives.”

He commended NAMA management for rising to the occasion by signing the agreement.

The people of Elele town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State have benefitted from an intense medical program put together by the Medical Mission For Peace in conjunction with AMERICARES and Elele Health Association where In sum, a total of 1,709 patients were treated during the exercise.

The program, which was held recently at the Rotimi Amaechi Center for Empowerment (RACE) Elele, was basically targeted at providing free healthcare for residents of the area who are least likely to afford it. The medical team of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Medical Assistants, and crowd control personnel, treated different ailments including arthritis, diabetes, malaria, typhoid fever, high blood pressure, as well as bacterial infections.

The two-day program ran from 9 am to 6 pm each day. We treated 782 cases of Malaria and Typhoid, 253 cases with uncontrolled hypertension, 75 patients cases of obese, 10 had congestive heart failure, 12 had abnormal heart rhythm, 177 cases of diabetes, 214 had Arthritis, and 57 treated for abdominal ulcers.

At the pharmacy patients with chronic received medications. Every patient who was seen by the received an assortment of over-the-counter medications including analgesics and vitamin supplements. The people who showed up and registered had vital sign screening, diabetes, and hypertension counseling also various over-the-counter medications, including vitamin supplements, cough, cold
remedies, and analgesics. We recorded 703 patients with visual problems (as young as 6 months and as old as 90 years), and several patients in their twenties were treated for diabetes.

According to the team, “The youngest patient with glaucoma was 22 yrs old. We had an ‘autorefractor reading of ‘ unable to read’ because it exceeded the +/-10,00D limit. He was +10-00D in both eyes. We did not have any +10.00D glasses with us, but we did have +8.50D with a bifocal. We also had a child with severe left eyelid ptosis. We found she had a corneal ulcer for over a week, and we started her on a pulse dose of Vigamox (antibiotic drop). “

Sunglasses were a hit, especially the kids’ sunglasses because patients under 20 years of age were all dilated. Patients loved receiving a new pair of glasses and were very grateful. The patients’ faces radiated with palpable joy as each of them had the eyeglasses stuck on their faces, discovering a new world around them”, he said. While also identifying some challenges associated with the program, such as low workforce/volunteer pool, limited geographic area targeted, insufficient drugs, and short program duration, Dr. Nnamdi said, “We ran out of drugs and had to make purchases at retail in the open market. We also had to shut down and turn away patients due to the short duration. “

On his part, the founder, of Medical Vision for Peace, Dr. Ogu Emejuru, who is also the publisher, of medicalvisions.org expressed gratitude to AmeriCares for donating the medical supplies and drugs. He thanked CHIMATEMS LLC for their support in providing additional drugs for the exercise and lauded the efforts of all the healthcare volunteers from the community that gave up their time to improve community wellness.

He particularly expressed appreciation to Dr. Ike Nlerem, President of Elele Health Association, and Ms. Janet Obunwo, a prominent Nurse based in New York, for their contributions to the success of the program. Dr. Emejuru also donated 600 readers of myopic single-vision glasses and sunglasses for the program. Meanwhile, during the follow-up debriefing, Medical Visions for Peace and Elele Health Association pledged a yearly free medical mission for the people while also seeking support from members of the community.

Beneficiaries of the programme, which includes older adults and children, expressed happiness for the medical intervention.

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Nasarawa State government and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) are set to partner on a lithium processing policy that would ensure that Lithium mined in the State is processed locally instead of exporting it raw.

According to a press release signed by the NASENI, Director, Information, and Protocol and made available to Africa Security Investigation News on Monday, disclosed that the processing policy is in line with NASENI’s drive to encourage the processing of Strategic Solid Minerals and particularly to ensure that batteries are produced locally for both electric vehicles as well as other energy storage applications.

This was disclosed when the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Bashir Gwandu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja at the weekend. Nasarawa state is one of the states acknowledged to have potentially the largest deposits of lithium in Nigeria.

Recently NASENI has made headlines on its efforts to encourage investors and Nigerian lithium-off-takers from around the world to come and partner with it to process various combinations of lithium into batteries locally. This will include lithium processing from mineral crushing and extraction all the way to final products that can be used both locally and also export to other countries.

Some companies from China have already started visiting NASENI as a response to the call. Dr. Gwandu disclosed that NASENI will partner with other government agencies such as Rural Electricity Agency (REA), Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and other investing institutions on this effort.

He said he was pleased that the Nasarawa state governor is coming to collaborate with NASENI in this regard. A number of companies have indicated interested in investing in Nasarawa state to process lithium in various quantities ranging from 1,000-3,000 tonnes per day. So far, almost 6,000 tonnes per day are projected to be processed daily in Nasarawa alone.

On his part, Governor Sule said the companies have already indicated interest to process the 6,000 tonnes per day in Nasarawa state, adding that other states such as Kebbi, Kwara, etc., might also attract such kind of companies and investments, and there is need for proper coordination, and for all hands to be on deck to ensure that Nigeria takes its place by being recognized as one of the largest lithium producers in the world.

The Governor added that there is something happening that is akin to Gold Rush which he termed ‘Lithium Rush” happening in his state and this is because lithium price in the world market has jumped from $6,000 per metric tonnes to $78,000 per metric tonnes. “Nasarawa state has a large quantum of Lithium and hence the need to have a better working synergy with NASENI for purposeful exploration, extraction and processing.”

According to Engr. Sule, NASENI is him, considering the number of projects that are adding value to the economy of his state, urging that the NASENI Solar in Gora may be used as lithium processing and battery production plant considering its proximity to the raw materials and also the proximity to the NASENI Solid Minerals institute which is also located in Nasarawa town in the same state.

While promising to give the Agency necessary support, he called for more collaborations with the State as it plans a second economic summit that would be tagged “Lithium Rush Summit”.

The EVC stated that during recent visit to Nasarawa he had encouraged the Institute to allow the use of its machines by the local communities and small companies for efficient utilization and capacity building and for economic development.

The governor who stated that he heard that the Agency was planning on building an airport, urged it to utilise the State’s cargo airport for evacuation of its products.

While responding further to His Excellency Governor Sule, Dr. Gwandu disclosed that NASENI does not have any plan to build an airport but is working on establishing an MRO/ARO as part of our efforts to develop capacity for both maintenance and eventual aircrafts parts production to service aerospace industry which is likely to be sited in Abuja in view of its location and electricity supply.

He promised that NASENI will actively participate in any conference by the State with regard to lithium. He said NASENI Institutes have industrial machineries and other equipment and workforce that were readily available to lead Nigeria to industrialize and achieve a diversified economy but doing this requires huge funds outlay to fulfil the Agency’s mandate.

He requested the governor to be one of the ambassadors of NASENI in NGF. He said NGF holds key to the release of NASENI’s held up funds.

Moreover, he said the governors support is key to enabling the Agency carry out its works in the areas of science, technology and innovation (STI), geared towards the industrial development at the States.

By Emmanuel Daudu

Journalists who were brutally assaulted on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 in Bayelsa State have told IPC’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) that it was a needle-eye escape from the jaws of death.

According to
Melody Akinjiyan
Coordinator, I-CSPJ, in a press release signed on Monday, disclosed that the assault took place in Opu Nembe, in Nembe Local Government Area of the State, where the group of journalists had gone to assess the aftermath of a reported clash between some youths and allegedly exiled chiefs in the community.

One of the affected journalists, Joseph Kunde of Television Continental (TVC) recalled how it started:
“About six of us from four media houses went for an official assignment at the community, following news that peace had been restored and with the confidence that there were security operatives on ground securing the community, and they were actually following us up to some point while the exiled chiefs were taking us round the destroyed houses. As we were rounding off, the exiled chiefs took us through some foot paths which the police vehicle could not access and because we are not familiar with the terrain, we had no idea the hoodlums were monitoring us and took advantage of that.”

“We all ran for our safety when they came. One of my colleagues from AIT had to pretend to be dead after she was hit so badly. I ran for safety to a house where I was kept safe by a woman and her children for not less than an hour. I had to give them money to go and confirm at three different times if the hoodlums had gone, before I could come out of my hiding. They described the safest route for me to get out safely, although I still encountered some hoodlums but I was able to pull through until I found a police checkpoint. Meanwhile, I was following up on my cameraman who unfortunately was not as lucky as I was. By the time he came out of hiding, he ran into the hoodlums, they snatched his camera, microphone and every other personal item he had on him. They tore his clothes, beat him and treated him like a common criminal, alongside some of the chiefs. He even lost two of his teeth in the process,” Joseph added.

In her own account, Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Africa Independent Television (AIT) stated: “following reports that peace had been restored to Nembe Basambiri, I was called by some concerned chiefs so as to cover the damages caused, during the crisis.”

“In the course of carrying out my duty, I was ambushed by boys bearing guns and matchets, I then took to my heels and ran for my life. While running I fell down, hit my head on the ground and couldn’t stand up so I pretended as though I was dead, they took my camera, phone and the tripod, I heard some saying she is dead and they left me”.

Femi Folaranmi of the Sun Newspaper also said that as soon as the hoodlums ambushed them, he alongside his colleague from NTA ran into hiding for safety. “We later came out and ran to where we were able to locate police officials who rescued us from the boys. Unfortunately, some of my other colleagues were not as lucky as we were, as they were severely dealt with by the hoodlums”.

Speaking on how they were rescued, Joseph Kunde of TVC stated that, when he eventually located the police, they escorted him to rescue some of his colleagues by shooting severally into the air and using tear gas at the hoodlums who ran away. Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Africa Independent Television (AIT) was rescued with the help of a lady who also later robbed her, but she managed to escape. While Ayebakuro Egein and the NTA cameraman were rescued by community members. They were then taken to the hospital while they also formally reported the incident to the police.

Journalists attacked include Joseph Kunde of Television Continental (TVC) and his cameraman; Bina Miebi, Awe Baratuepre of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and his cameraman; Femi Folaranmi of the Sun Newspaper; Ayebakuro Egein and Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Africa Independent Television (AIT).

IPC’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, in a statement expressed grave concern over the attack and many others yet to be resolved.

Akinjiyan said although the Police helped in ameliorating the situation, it was still worrisome that the hoodlums could succeed in inflicting such degree of injury on the journalists.

Akinjiyan said the development was particularly disturbing with the off-cycle elections in the State in view.

She therefore urged the Bayelsa State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police to thoroughly investigate the unfortunate incident and ensure that justice is done, which includes that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that peace is fully restored in the community.

I-CSPJ also implores all journalists, especially those covering the off-cycle elections to take safety precautions while carrying out their assignments.

Kashif: A Dawn Onto The Day Of The Masses

I routinely regulate pessimistic thoughts. I know not the reason. But I guess, is the nature of the environment that birthed me. However, as I grow, I met people. In these people, I see a hope being rebirthed. I see the need to comment on their character, deeds and leadership style demonstrated.

I want to start by telling my story. I was born and raised in a community I call Borough. One of the areas off the beaten path. But it is peaceful and liveable. It is an agricultural hub where the majority of people are living in poverty. It is sociable and accommodating though. People who are not in the business are there. However, companies grow. In this clan, politics reigns supreme. But they handle everything on their own. These and numerous more factors influence how I think.

I traveled in, opened and closed eyes with my queer-optimistic-thought until I met the Director General, NITDA. My journey with him was not a physical one. His gesture to the grassroots people touched my person. I was selected to participate in one of the programs his agency singly sponsored and still do sponsor similar life-changing programs all across the federation. I made the list of artisans to be trained on phone repairs. The caliber of the participants weakened my believe.
Albeit discharging responsibilities is one’s compulsory task, Allah will make those shouldering them to account. Those who excellently fulfill those responsibilities and stand out ought to be mentioned and celebrated. The current Director General of NITDA has indeed inherited a dire concern for the downtrodden masses and has immensely built on that. The posture of seeing rural dwellers being self-reliant will rekindle the hope of Nigerians. I was myopic, thinking that those activities were only done in my state, being the state of the D. G. I realized that his developmental strides transcend Jigawa State and have reached every nook and cranny of Nigeria. This compelled me to make each NITDA’s social media handles outlet a mecca for routine consultations, through which I paved a way for three to four different persons to access such programs. These people, including myself, are today independent, thanks to the courses.

The Director General’s voyage has had an effect on NITDA. His extensive background with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone, and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has revolutionised NITDA and increased the GDP of Nigeria. As a result, he was granted a three-year extension to his term of service and presented with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award by former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

The computer access centers are welcomed by Nigerians. In his digital inclusion efforts, he made sure they are built everywhere across the country, in government ministries, agencies and departments. Community based computer access centers are also planted. Villages have access to being digital. A leadership of this kind deserves a mention and the leader ought to be immortalized.

The DG NITDA clicks four years in office today, being 20th of August, 2023. I know quite a number of beneficiaries are in dire need to channel their words of immense gratitude to his ears. I therefore choose to do that to the public. I say a prayer on behalf of the whole well-wishers: May Allah (S.W.T.) shower his blessings, protection, and guidance to Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, DG NITDA. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS SIR, MAY THE SKY BE THE STARTING POINT.

ABDURRASHID ALI ZAREKU
JIGAWA STATE COORDINATOR,
YOUTH AND CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION FOR DEVELOPMENT
(YCSCD).
Abdurrashidali2@gmail.com
08121014605, 08142498724.

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Dr. Bashir Gwandu has visited the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, His Excellency Zdeněk Krejčí for business collaboration and fact-finding on Delta2 Project.

According to a press statement signed by Chima Akwaja, for the Director Information and Protocol, NASENI, and made available to Africa Security Investigation news on Sunday 20th August 2023, disclosed that Dr. Gwandu who paid a courtesy call to the Czech ambassador in Nigeria at his office in Abuja on Friday, August 18, 2023, said he was on a fact-finding visit to know why the project which was supposed to benefit Nigeria’s technology companies and entrepreneurs and the country’s economic development failed.

The Delta2 Project was supposed to be a bilateral collaboration between the governments of Nigeria (represented by NASENI) and the Czech Republic (represented by Technology Agency of Czech Republic, TA CR) that would ensure the take-off of projects that would foster growth and expansion of infrastructure, manufacturing, and innovation in Nigeria leading to Made-in-Nigeria technologies and products.

Dr. Gwandu informed the Ambassador that the new administration at NASENI is ready to work with the Czech government to drive Nigeria’s industrialization agenda and attract new investments in the country that would ensure the domestication of technologies through partnerships.

According to him, the mandate of NASENI is to make sure that Nigeria produces most of the goods and services it currently imports of which Nigeria has the capability to produce locally, thus developing the country’s economy and creating jobs for millions of Nigerians.

“I want us to work on -government-to-government level on new initiatives we embark on. We want a relationship that is beneficial to our country. We have a lot of companies we are reaching out to. We want to work with the Czech government and companies. We want them to come here and start producing and domesticating technologies. We want to industrialize Nigeria.

“We want Czech companies to come and invest here in Nigeria and have partnership with us,” Gwandu said, adding that NASENI is working on new initiatives that would accelerate Nigeria’s industrialization and would partner companies from the Czech Republic and other countries ready to set up factories and industrial bases in Nigeria.

On his part, the Czech ambassador commended the EVC of NASENI and his team for making time to visit him at the embassy to enquire about why Delta2 Project did not take off. He said his country is ready to work with NASENI on scientific cooperation.

“We await your new initiatives. In our country, we have a grant agency and a technology agency responsible for scientific cooperations and also the Academy of Sciences which will be beneficial to you.

“We have about two or three companies that are ready to work with you and three universities working with tropical agriculture. I think they deserve your cooperation,” he said, adding that they are ready to work with NASENI to make the new initiatives fruitful.