Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Video - New air-conditioning directive in Nigeria is aimed at promoting tourism
All passenger service vehicles operating in Abuja have been directed to fix the air-conditioning in their cars. Authorities say the directive is aimed at promoting tourism - and will be enforced from the 1st of October.
Video - Military rescues 148 Boko Haram hostages in Nigeria
Our correspondent Kelechi Emekalam is following the Nigerian military's crackdown on Boko Haram. The army says it's rescued another 148 hostages from the militant group. They have been freed during an operation in Bama, a remote part of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria.
China to invest $300m in mass housing in Nigeria
As part of measures to bridge the rising accommodation and shelter gaps in the country, Chinese investors have said they are investing a whopping $300m in mass housing schemes for low and middle income earners across the country.
The Assistant of Director, Director of the One Belt One Road Financing Operation in China, Mr Steven Kim, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the operational briefing of the ZVECAN Homes and Estate of the ZVECAN consulting and Engineering Limited.
This is as the Managing Director, Zvecan Homes and Estate, Mr Nicholas Ogbedo, said that over 5,000 civil servants, who are the initial off-takers and completing their documentaries with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB), would be the first beneficiaries of the homes to be built on request in one bed-room, two bed-rooms and others bungalows in the allocated locations in the FCT.
The briefing was to update the developer’s inputs for the off-takers in the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) initiated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, as part of measures to by the Federal Government to provide affordable housing for the Federal Civil Servants before they retire from service.
According to Kim, who spoke through an interpreter, Mr Sylvester Osagie Aigbe, most of the $300m would be spent on local raw materials and technical manpower, while some importations including some raw materials, not readily available in Nigeria, would be imported from China.
“The Chinese Government is reviewing some of its policies in some countries receiving aids and grants, some of the reviews involve direct investment in housing and other critical infrastructural needs. Like we are going to do in Nigeria, partnering indigenous organisations, we have been involved in similar mass housing schemes in Kenya and Angola, where we are building over 3000 units of different specifications of affordable housing,” Kim said.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, Zvecan Homes and Estate, Mr Nicholas Ogbedo, said his organisation is working with FISH and other government stakeholders to realize their mandate.
He added that his organisation was involved in the Kenyan and Angola schemes, hence his efforts to get the investors to Nigeria for the benefits of the low and medium civil servants.
Daily Trust
The Assistant of Director, Director of the One Belt One Road Financing Operation in China, Mr Steven Kim, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the operational briefing of the ZVECAN Homes and Estate of the ZVECAN consulting and Engineering Limited.
This is as the Managing Director, Zvecan Homes and Estate, Mr Nicholas Ogbedo, said that over 5,000 civil servants, who are the initial off-takers and completing their documentaries with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB), would be the first beneficiaries of the homes to be built on request in one bed-room, two bed-rooms and others bungalows in the allocated locations in the FCT.
The briefing was to update the developer’s inputs for the off-takers in the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) initiated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, as part of measures to by the Federal Government to provide affordable housing for the Federal Civil Servants before they retire from service.
According to Kim, who spoke through an interpreter, Mr Sylvester Osagie Aigbe, most of the $300m would be spent on local raw materials and technical manpower, while some importations including some raw materials, not readily available in Nigeria, would be imported from China.
“The Chinese Government is reviewing some of its policies in some countries receiving aids and grants, some of the reviews involve direct investment in housing and other critical infrastructural needs. Like we are going to do in Nigeria, partnering indigenous organisations, we have been involved in similar mass housing schemes in Kenya and Angola, where we are building over 3000 units of different specifications of affordable housing,” Kim said.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, Zvecan Homes and Estate, Mr Nicholas Ogbedo, said his organisation is working with FISH and other government stakeholders to realize their mandate.
He added that his organisation was involved in the Kenyan and Angola schemes, hence his efforts to get the investors to Nigeria for the benefits of the low and medium civil servants.
Daily Trust
Germany plans to deport 30,000 Nigerians
The German government is set to deport close to 30,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa disclosed this at a programme; "Developing a mixed migration strategy for UNHCR Nigeria" in Abuja on Tuesday.
"Germany said it has about 25,000 to 30,000 Nigerians seeking asylum and they can't guarantee they will get it. So, there is every possibilities that they will be returned to Nigeria," she said.
According to her, the reasons for asylum by the Nigerians were not genuine as "some who are from the East and West are saying they are running away from Boko Haram while some others say they are gays and were having challenges expressing themselves in Nigeria."
The SSA to the President said a date has not yet been set for the deportation of the asylum seeking Nigerians.
"Germany has set up a team working with the ministry of foreign affairs to see how the whole process [of deportation] can be made easier," she added.
While noting that Germany is offering more scholarships and easier process of regular migration for Nigerians, she appealed to young Nigerians to watch out for those opportunities and take advantage of them.
"We are looking at the option of reverse migration also where you can actually stay in your country and enjoy everything you are migrating abroad to get," Hon. Dabiri Erewa added.
She noted that irregular migration was no longer working as the foreign countries were also having their own challenges now.
she said the government was already doing much to tackle the issues that are encouraging irregular migration, adding that "we are fighting corruption, insecurity and trying to revive the economy."
Earlier, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Antonio Jose Canhandula told the stakeholders to suggest better ways of tackling irregular migration, adding that European countries were already closing their doors against migrants.
On her part, the South West Zonal Director of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Margret Ukegbu lamented that Nigerians have started migrating to unpopular countries like Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Mali.
She noted that importance should be placed on education, stressing that the Nigerian society has been encouraging irregular migration.
Daily Trust
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa disclosed this at a programme; "Developing a mixed migration strategy for UNHCR Nigeria" in Abuja on Tuesday.
"Germany said it has about 25,000 to 30,000 Nigerians seeking asylum and they can't guarantee they will get it. So, there is every possibilities that they will be returned to Nigeria," she said.
According to her, the reasons for asylum by the Nigerians were not genuine as "some who are from the East and West are saying they are running away from Boko Haram while some others say they are gays and were having challenges expressing themselves in Nigeria."
The SSA to the President said a date has not yet been set for the deportation of the asylum seeking Nigerians.
"Germany has set up a team working with the ministry of foreign affairs to see how the whole process [of deportation] can be made easier," she added.
While noting that Germany is offering more scholarships and easier process of regular migration for Nigerians, she appealed to young Nigerians to watch out for those opportunities and take advantage of them.
"We are looking at the option of reverse migration also where you can actually stay in your country and enjoy everything you are migrating abroad to get," Hon. Dabiri Erewa added.
She noted that irregular migration was no longer working as the foreign countries were also having their own challenges now.
she said the government was already doing much to tackle the issues that are encouraging irregular migration, adding that "we are fighting corruption, insecurity and trying to revive the economy."
Earlier, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Antonio Jose Canhandula told the stakeholders to suggest better ways of tackling irregular migration, adding that European countries were already closing their doors against migrants.
On her part, the South West Zonal Director of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Margret Ukegbu lamented that Nigerians have started migrating to unpopular countries like Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Mali.
She noted that importance should be placed on education, stressing that the Nigerian society has been encouraging irregular migration.
Daily Trust
National Assembly threatens President Buhari with impeachment
The National Assembly on Tuesday, gave President Muhammadu Buhari 12-point condition to address urgently or face the invocation of its powers against him.
This was the outcome of closed-door joint executive session of both chambers of the assembly in Abuja.
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, read the resolution from the session, which lasted over three hours, and declared that the lawmakers would not hesitate to move against the president if he failed to comply.
He enumerated the conditions as:
"1. The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible government.
"2. The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions, including legislators and judiciary, by the police and other security agencies must stop.
"3. There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
"4. The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.
"5. The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective, and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
"6. The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business, but prosecute those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
"7a. National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US Congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.
"b. Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation, particularly as we approach the 2019 elections.
"8. The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy.
"9. The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to 80 dollars per barrel.
"10. Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote-of-confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.
"11a. We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote-of-no-confidence on the Inspector-General of Police, who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President.
"b.The Inspector-General of Police has outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.
"12. Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today (Tuesday)."
Guardian
This was the outcome of closed-door joint executive session of both chambers of the assembly in Abuja.
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, read the resolution from the session, which lasted over three hours, and declared that the lawmakers would not hesitate to move against the president if he failed to comply.
He enumerated the conditions as:
"1. The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible government.
"2. The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions, including legislators and judiciary, by the police and other security agencies must stop.
"3. There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
"4. The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.
"5. The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective, and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
"6. The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business, but prosecute those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
"7a. National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US Congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.
"b. Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation, particularly as we approach the 2019 elections.
"8. The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy.
"9. The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to 80 dollars per barrel.
"10. Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote-of-confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.
"11a. We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote-of-no-confidence on the Inspector-General of Police, who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President.
"b.The Inspector-General of Police has outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.
"12. Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today (Tuesday)."
Guardian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)