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BUSINESS DAY C002D5556
Edo, reference point for good governance- Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Edo State in the last decade has retained her status as a reference point with regard to good governance in Nigeria.
Osinbajo gave the commendation at a state dinner held in his honour at the Edo Government House in Benin City, as part of his two-day visit to the state.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction with efforts of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in re-enacting the developmental strides recorded in the administration of the late Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia.
He assured of the Federal Government’ s readiness to support the state in it effort to bring development to the people.
He said the various projects that informed his visit to the state would boost the Edo economy, especially the Federal Government’ s South- South Innovation Hub.
In his remark, Obaseki expressed his appreciation to the Vice President for his continued support for the state, noting that the several initiatives of the Office of the Vice President have provided jobs for Edo youths.
“ The N-Power and N- Build programmes have remained major sources of encouragement for the state in her journey to greatness,” the governor said.
The Edo State deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu, solicited for more support from the Federal Government to enable the state benefit more from the initiatives of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Obaseki at the dinner announced full scholarship to Miss Obakpolor Esosa, a Senior Secondary School 1 student of Idia College, Benin City, due to the depth of her presentation on the Menace of Human Trafficking.
People with albinism deserve our support – Obaseki
Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has called for support for people with albinism, urging societies that marginalise and stigmatise them to turn a new leaf.
Obaseki, who made the call in commemoration of the International Albinism Awareness Day, marked on June 13, each year, stressed that it was time for a change of attitude towards people with albinism.
“ With the deluge of information on the internet, the myth and unscientific views many societies hold of people with albinism should have no place in an information age. But unfortunately, some societies still despise and exclude them. This needs to stop,” the governor advised.
According to Obaseki:“ Some of the most hardworking people I have met are people with albinism, despite their peculiar needs, which are often not captured by human resource managers in the private and public sectors.”
He saluted champions of the cause of people with albinism and challenged families, religious institutions, the media, opinion and thought leaders as well as governments at all levels, to intensify the campaign for the social inclusion of people with albinism.
The United Nations General Assembly in 2014, adopted a Resolution proclaiming, with effect from 2015, 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day.
According to the global body,“ The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution in 2013 calling for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism.
“ Moreover, in response to the call from civil society organisations advocating to consider persons with albinism as a specific group with particular needs that require special attention, on 26 March 2015, the Council created the mandate of Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.
“ In January 2016, Ms. Ikponwosa Ero, United Nations Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Persons with Albinism submitted her first report on albinism to the UN Human Rights Council. Adding to the information contained in the July 2016 report to the General Assembly, the latest report was presented to the Human Rights Council in 2017 and included a focus on witchcraft as a key root cause of attacks against persons with albinism.”
Monday 18 June 2018
L-R: Ipalbo-Harry Banigo, deputy governor, Rivers State; Nyesom Wike, governor, Rivers State; Ifeanyi Okowa, governor, Delta State; Celestine Omehia, former governor of Rivers State, and George Sekibo, a senator, during the inauguration of Mgbuosimini Rumueme Primary Health Care Centre in Rivers.
NAN
Nigeria lacks manpower, stable policies to drive prospective projects in aviation – experts
… national carrier, MRO, airport concession to kick off soon
IFEOMA OKEKE
Nigeria is said to be short on requisite skills and policies to drive the aviation sector, in the face of opportunities opening up in few months, experts say.
Experts have reiterated that adequate manpower and stable policies are key drivers to the six major prospective investments in the aviation sector, some of which may kick off this year.
The six projects in the roadmap include the concession of the four major airports, establishment of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul( MRO) Centre and Aviation leasing company, development of Aerotropolis and cargo / Argo allied terminals, establishment of national carrier.
In March 2018, the Federal Government unveiled transaction advisers for these six projects in the Aviation Roadmap in line with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission( ICRC) guidelines and public procurement act. This implies that there are plans on ground for these projects to commence soon.
“ Nigeria needs to be ready to shoulder these huge investments in the aviation sector. With the current deficit of manpower and unfriendly government policies, I do not think these investments will ever be sustainable,” an operator who craved anonymity told BusinessDay.
The operator says further that these investments are very capital intensive and if the investors perceive that their investments could be at risk, they may withdraw.
He recalls that between 2015 and 2016, the sector lost over $ 2 billion in investment from international financiers who wanted a stake in Nigeria air transport sector by building an MRO, but the depleting fleet of domestic airlines and inconsistent government policies have halted the investment decision.
The five Civil Aviation Training institutions in Nigeria include the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology( NCAT) Zaria, the International Aviation College( IAC), Ilorin, International Helicopter Flying School, Enugu, Landover Aviation Training School, Ikeja, and Aeroconsult Training School, Ikeja.
BusinessDay’ s findings show that NCAT, which is the biggest aviation school in Nigeria, graduates an average of 500 trained personnel yearly, followed by IAC Ilorin,
Bayelsa workforce down to 27,000 from 55,000
SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State government says its workforce is now 27,000 down from 55,000 as a result of the ongoing public sector reforms introduced by the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson administration.
Commissioner for information and orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, made the disclosure at a town hall meeting organised to drum up support for the ongoing reforms at Sagbama on Thursday.
Iworiso-Markson, who described the public sector reforms as one of the best policies embarked upon by the state, said the reduction was achieved by removal of ghost workers from the payroll.
He said the ghost workers were discovered through verification exercises and expressed hope that more achievements would be recorded for the overall benefit of the people before the end of the administration.
Thanking the people of Sagbama for producing Governor Dickson as a leader who is doing so much to transform the state, he stressed that the reforms would provide job opportunities and resources for more infrastructural development.
Iworiso-Markson called for support from the chiefs and people of the area and urged them to work hand in hand with the various teams that would visit their communities to verify and pay pensioners.
Also speaking, the commissioner for labour, employment and productivity, Collins Cocodia said Bayelsa State was second to Lagos State in terms of public service workforce in 2012, but now has 27,000 which produces between 60 and 80 pilots yearly. Other schools produce between 150 and 200 trained personnel yearly.
Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, says these numbers are not sufficient to address the growing travel market in Nigeria, adding that the country needs trained work force in ICT firms, aerospace manufacturers, MRO, power plants engineers and mechanics.
Over the next 20 years, Boeing is forecasting that the world would manufacture over 39,600 airplanes valued at more than $ 5.9 trillion because the total number of aircraft in year 2015 will increase from 22,510 units to 45,240 aircraft by the year 2035.
This will come from the manufacture of 39,620 new units of various types of aircraft worth $ 5,930 billion. It is predicted that Africa will require 1,150 units valued at $ 170 billion.
Sirika explains that the engineers, ICT experts, pilots, among others that will join and participate in the design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance of these aircrafts would be in excess of 1 million people. There will also be additional need for additional aviation infrastructure to service the increasing fleet of aircraft.
persons on the payroll.
In their separate remarks, the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Peter Akpe and Bernard Kenebai representing Sagbama I endorsed the restructuring process disclosing that the legislature would soon institutionalise the reforms.
Earlier, the acting chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council, Michael Magbisa, in his welcome address lauded the state government for the reforms revealing council’ s monthly wage bill has dropped from N173 million in 2016 to N66.4 million.
Special adviser to the governor on political matters, Fyneman Wilson, Francis Doukpola, the Ibenanaowei of Oyiakiri Clan, Joshua Igbagara and state secretary of the People’ s Democratic Party( PDP), Godspower Keku, expressed support for the reforms.
Azura-Edo IPP: Proof of Edo’ s enabling environment for private investors- Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has attributed the delivery of the Edo-Azura 450mw Independent Power Project( IPP) as a testimony of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’ s posture in creating an enabling environment for private businesses.
The Vice President, who said this during a visit on Friday to the Azura-Edo IPP, near Benin City, said the project demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian engineers as well as Nigerian enterprise.
He said the plant has greatly increased the capacity of Nigeria to generate power, noting,“ With the 450mw from this plant and the quality of this particular plant, I think we are on to a very good thing. I think with the capacity to increase generation from here, I think this is very positive.
“ All that we need to do is to create the environment for businesses to thrive. As you know, this is a privately owned plant and a private initiative but with the active support of the government. This is one of the reasons why I am here. To give all the support that we can and ensure that the environment is right for those who want to invest in the power sector is what we will do and what we will continue to do.”
He described as fantastic his experience in the state for the two days, noting,“ I have been to the groundbreaking of the housing units at Emotan Gardens. I have also gone to see the innovation hub, which we describe as the South-South Hub, a collaboration between the Federal Government and the State Government.
“ I saw all of the young, creative Nigerians involved in technology and innovation, doing wonderful things. I was here to commission that; and to see our N-Power and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme( GEEP). I am glad that I came and I will be back.”
Earlier on Friday, the Vice President met with Christian leaders in the state at the Government House, during a breakfast session and paid a visit to the Benin Monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akplokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, in his palace.