Day: November 14, 2023

Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation has lauded President Bola Tinubu on the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, describing it as a noble platform for the promotion of Pan-Africanism.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Nkem Anyata-Lafia, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (DG) of Technical Aid Corps in Africa (DTAC).

Anyata-Lafia quoted the Rwanda’s Minister of State, Mr James Kabarebe, as lauding Tinubu in Kigali when the ministry received the delegation of DTAC led by Yakub.

It would be recalled that the DTAC boss and some senior staff had embarked on a four-day Administrative, Monitoring and Evaluation exercise in four countries in East Africa.

While on the administrative tour, the team will monitor the TAC volunteers in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Seychelles.

Kabarebe commended Tinubu’s administration, noting that he action was a big brother approach.

He extolled Tinubu’s gesture for continuing to advance the course of development through technology transfer, skills acquisition and scholarship for African people.

The minister said that although Nigeria, like other nations of the world with its own challenges, is commitment to the leadership and development of Africa and some parts of the globe through soft-power diplomacy remained laudable and worthy of emulation.

According to him, Nigeria has continued to use its huge population, size and early advancement in matters of education to benefit all parts of Africa.

The minister reminisced the positive inspiration projected by writers such as, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and Cyprian Ekwensi, among many others.

Kabarebe said, “These were not only an instrument of soft power that sold Nigeria to the world, but was all that Nigeria needed to stamp its authority as a global super player in world affairs.

Furthermore, he highlighted the huge gap that existed between other countries of Africa and their goals, adding that TAC deserves Africa’s support.

The minister promised that the ministry would leverage on the existing cordial relations between Rwanda and Nigeria to strengthen their co-operation through the scheme.

Speaking earlier, Yakub said that the delegation were in Rwanda to monitor, evaluate and as well to review the activities of the TAC volunteer scheme in its recipient countries and among the volunteers.

He added that the visit was also aimed at providing him the opportunity to meet and familiarise with State officials and other stakeholders in the TAC scheme across parts of Africa after been appointed to head the agency by Tinubu.

The DTAC delegation also met with the Minister of State for Education, Ms Claudette Irere, Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Kigali, Amb. Suleiman Sani and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance), University of Rwanda, Ms Francoise Kayitore.

They also visited the remaining volunteer of the TAC scheme at the University of Rwanda, Dr Nasiru Sani, a Health Information and Community Medicine expert, among others.

The DTAC team comprised Yakub, the Director of Programmes, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed, acting Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr Idris Saidu and Mrs Rahila Ayuba-Kaura, acting Director, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has secured the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) ISO 9001:2015 recertification for another three-years.

The certificate is in recognition of the excellent services being rendered by the CAC, the Deputy Director, Budget, Planning, Research, and Statistics, Uzoma Oji, said on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oji who presented the certificate to the Registrar-General of CAC, Hussaini Magaji, said it would expire on July 29, 2026, and urged the commission not to derail in providing efficient services to the public.

He said: ”the milestone achievement follows the re-certification audit of the Commission’s Quality Management System (QMS) by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in July.

“The certification is an attestation by the SON that the quality of services rendered by the Commission to her esteemed customers is in conformity with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard.”

Receiving the certificate, the CAC’s Registrar-General thanked SON for the recognition and commended staff of the commission for their hard work and delivery of excellent services to customers.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Initiator of Sam Oguche basketball tournament, Sam Oguche has promised to leave no stone unturned to ensure more growth and development of basketball in the country.

Oguche spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament in Abuja.

He said that the goal of the tournament was to identify and develop more talents at the grassroots.

NAN reports that the tournament which dunked off at the magnificent Mo Basketball Arena in Abuja on Nov.13 is expected to end on Nov. 17.

According to him, “This is what we do every year. I had this same edition in Lagos last year but this year we decided to come to Abuja.

“We are just coming back to give back to the youth through basketball.

“This is the third edition and so far we have eight elite teams from outside and within Abuja,” he said.

The former Nigeria Basketball International stressed that he was passionate about the growth and development of Basketball at the grassroots in the country.

“What keeps me going is the passion. Not just me, but I and many others who have been supporting the growth of basketball in Nigeria and beyond.

“I am impressed about the progress made so far as I have seen some of the kids who attended this tournament playing in the league team.

“For me, this is really good and it means that they are growing and the game is growing in the country as well,” he said.

He urged basketball stakeholders in the country not to relent in their effort to develop basketball in the country, noting that the future had a lot of goodies for the game.

Oguche, however, urged the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to be more deliberate in developing the sports at the grassroots.

“Honestly my take and how I feel for the growth of basketball in the country is that we can do better.

“There are a lot of things we are lacking ranging from facilities to grassroots initiatives and I think we can do better.

“The future is bright for Nigerian basketball because there are a lot of guys from the diaspora that come back and do what we do.

“I also think keeping league consistency by the Nigeria Basketball Federation can actually make basketball do better,” he said.

NAN reports that results of matches played on Monday saw FCT Hard Rockers beat Bulldogs 80-75 in a pulsating opening game.

Also, 313 Warrior defeated Defenders Basketball team 78-70, while Mark Town Flyers out-dunked Plateau Peaks 79-66.

The winners of the tournament are expected to smile home with N1 million, while the runners up will pocket N500,000.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for mass housing and the recovery of land use contravention fees.

Wike explained while inaugurating the task force in Abuja on Tuesday that the measure was to ensure that each of the houses in mass housing estates has its own C of O and pay for it.

He lamented that virtually all the residential areas have been turned to commercial, adding, “something must be done about it.”

He said that those who contravened the Land Use Act must be recertified and pay the appropriate penalties.

Wike explained that those given approval for residential buildings have converted to commercial structures, while those given for commercial also contravene by building residential houses.

“So, there must be a recertification and there must be penalties.

“The only way people can be deterred from doing this is to make sure that we discourage them and discouraging them means that if you want to build, you have a penalty to pay, and that penalty must be severe.

“In as much as we want to generate revenue, we also want to control the development of areas.

“Abuja has to go back to the original Master Plan. If there is need to have some amendment, it is the government that will do such amendment, it is not for the allottees to do so on their own,” he said.

The minister said that government agencies in charge of land administration in the FCT were part of the problem, adding that the agencies were included in the task force to solve the problem they created.

He said: “Part of the problem we are having is the agencies: development control is part of the problem; the land registry is part of the problem; Abuja Geographic Information System AGIS is part of the problem.

“That is why they are part of the task force to face the problem they have caused and solve the problem. No outsider will do it.

“So, you must be diligent. Of course, you know, I will monitor what you are doing, and this assignment will not last more than one month from today.

“Whatever fund you require, let us know, Zenith bank will provide you the fund, but I must approve the fund.

“You write to me, and I will tell Zenith Bank what I need.*

Wike directed the task force to open two dedicated bank accounts for the assignment, saying, “one for non-compliance with the land use act and the other for the C of O.”

He also asked the task force to include people who were given land by the Area Councils but without C of O, adding that those concerned should be asked to apply and be informed about the amount to pay.

Wike explained that Abuja depended on Internally Generated Revenue to execute projects in the FCT.

“I am not interested in who did not comply and I don’t want anybody to write to me that the task force came. All I need is results. I don’t want excuses,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee would be chaired by Mr Michael Chinda, Senior Special Assistant to Wike on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning.

The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad, would serve as the secretary.

Other members of the taskforce include the Director, Department of Development Control, Director, Department of Land Administration and the Director, Department of Surveying and Mapping.

Others are the Director, Department of Mass Housing, Director of AGIS, and Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Also included are two estate surveyors, Dr Emmanuel Mark and Mr Emma Okas.

Responding on behalf of the members, Chinda expressed the readiness of the task force team to get to work and promised not to disappoint the minister.

The chairman further promised to deliver on the task within a month.

He described C of O as an “indispensable requirement” for land ownership, adding that the land belongs to the government and the people using it must pay.

“We will not spare anyone that has contravene and we will do the needful

“I can assure you that we will do this job with precision, diligence and a high level of professionalism so that we will meet your expectation and possibly exceed.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer has commended the Ondo State elders for steps taken to resolve the political crisis in the state.

Ajulo, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ondo State has been facing a political crisis intensified by the absence of Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and a contentious impeachment process involving the Deputy Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

He said the state eventually found solace in a pivotal meeting at the residence of Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Nov. 13.

Ajulo said that the state`s elders and leaders forum converged to discuss peace and development amidst the current political turbulence.

Ajulo had earlier urged the state elders to intervene in the crisis that disrupted governance and fueled enmity among the political actors in the state.

He expressed optimism in Ondo State’s ability to independently address challenges, while applauding the elders for responding to the call, emphasising the critical nature of such a meeting.

Ajulo who said that collective efforts was required to forester a harmonious coexistence, urged the indigenes to join the cause initiated by the united front of Ondo elders.

NAN reports that the national leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Monday held a meeting with some elders of the state to resolve the crisis between Akeredolu and his Deputy.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria