From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced massive investments meant to improve the infrastructure of the transportation sector, in its quest to diversify the economy by boosting exports and imports.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun.
According to him, the Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are set to establish a $1.5 billion modern traffic management programme to address the perennial traffic and congestion crisis in Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria’s leading port city.
According to Bello, the traffic management, when fully operational, would ensure that only trucks and tankers that have business in Apapa on a particular day and time are allowed into the port.
“There’s modern traffic management, on which the IFC is talking with the Federal Government, and it is a $1.5 billion investment. It would address traffic issues in Apapa. It is modern traffic management that ensures trucks are only at the ports when needed. It’s purely electronic and ICT-driven.
“Again, General Electric is already talking about concession of rail, which is about $2 billion investment. It is a Lagos-Kano rail project and that in itself is a major infrastructure boost. So, a lot of infrastructure will be built around the Lagos logistics route. This is being handled by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigerian Ports Authority. With these investments and more, it means we’re going to have a seamless transportation network, less cost, and ease our production and improve efficiency”, Bello said.
COMMUNICATION: NCC warns Nigerians against ‘tokunbo’ phones
From: Walter Ukeagbu, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned Nigerians to desist from the use of secondhand phones, popularly known as “tokunbo phones” and substandard mobile phones, because such devices pose great health risk to users.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made the declaration at the just-concluded Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Danbatta, represented by Mr. Reuben Muoka of the public affairs department, NCC, also advised Nigerians not to vandalise telecommunication infrastructure but to report anybody doing so to the authorities.
He emphasised that cell phones pose great health risks and highlighted the numerous roles the NCC has played towards ensuring that telecom subscribers get the best service from service providers. The telecoms regulator stressed that consumers must also play their part in order to receive quality service.
His words: “The use of substandard and counterfeit devices has been identified as one of the reasons for poor quality of service. Presently, there are different types of handsets in the market; some of these devices have been used and dropped in other parts of the world, while others are devices that did not meet international benchmarks for safety and other requirements.”
Danbatta disclosed that when such sub-standard handsets are deployed for use in Nigeria, they degrade the quality of service and in some cases imperil the health of the users.
EDUCATION: Only PTA-FGGC Benin was proscribed, says FG
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Federal Government yesterday explained that it was only Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Benin, Edo State, that was proscribed, contrary to reports that the proscription affected all Unity schools.
Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, said that the proscription, which was with immediate effect, was as a result of the recent act of gross misconduct, lawlessness and outright usurpation of government powers by the FGGC, Benin, PTA officials.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, stated that the PTA in question had, prior to the resumption of school for the 2016/2017 academic session, generated its own school fees and circulated it to parents of students with instruction to pay only what was approved by the PTA.
The Ministry also directed all principals and administrators of Unity colleges not to transact any business with the umbrella body of the association (NAPTAFGC), describing it as superfluous, illegal and an unnecessary financial burden on parents.
They were also charged to make judicious use of income from fees and government subventions to close whatever gap(s) might arise as a result of the cancellation of development levies.
Adamu directed that all ongoing development projects undertaken by the PTA, be compiled and forwarded to the Ministry for inclusion in the 2017 budget.
Works: Fashola: Funding infrastructure’ll tackle recession
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Federal Government has restated its resolve to vote massive funds for construction projects in the road and housing sectors, to quickly take the country out of recession. This is in addition to its call for the involvement of professionals, especially quantity surveyors, to ensure that limited funds were efficiently utilised.
Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this at the annual conference of Registered Quantity Surveyors in Abuja, said that the current administration was determined to take measures to boost the construction sector.
The conference, themed “The Role of Quantity Surveying in Development of the Nigerian Economy,” was organised by the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN).
According to Fashola, “This administration, more than any other in recent times, has taken concrete measures to bridge the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria in the belief that the development of a nation’s infrastructure impacts positively on its economy.”
Represented by the Director, Quantity Surveying, Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Dickson Onoja, the minister said, “Government believes that massive government investment and expenditure in infrastructure is one sure way of quickly taking Nigeria out of recession.
Science: Govt to release high-nutrient foods to IDPs – Onu
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has declared its intention to deploy foods specifically designed for nutritional purposes on malnourished children in the country, especially internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who spoke during a courtesy visit by the president of African University of Science and Technology, Prof. Kingston Nyamapfene, and his entourage, said, “We have been very concerned about what has been happening in the North-East, the high rate of malnutrition among the internally displaced children, and we will be administering therapeutic foods to them through our various agencies.”
One of the agencies, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, has developed high-nutrient density biscuits and other therapeutic foods, one of which is being commercialised by a Jos-based confectionary.
Onu assured the visitors of government’s support, stressing the need for Nigeria to invest in knowledge acquisition.
He further disclosed that the ministry was in the process of giving out grants to the Nigerian Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering, and that the ministry was creating links with all universities in the country to enable them have access to its facilities for research.