Minister lauds FG for training youths in seafaring

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Stephen Oru, on Wednesday commended the Federal Government’s efforts in engaging the youth in seafaring.

Oru made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

He said that some of the youth of the Niger Delta had been engaged in several skill acquisitions as well as agriculture, welding and mostly oil and gas-related courses.

``These ones are in a different area which has to do with seafaring and we see it as something quite attractive.

``Is an area where we don’t have a lot of Nigerians and we saw it as an opportunity to train our youths in this sector so that they will be of good to themselves and society and fit in into a new area of employment and then they will be, of course, of good to themselves and society.

Dr Stephen Oru

``I think is the essence of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to keep our youth gainfully employed in the area that are specialised; not loading and offloading trucks.

``That is not form of employment. We have indicated interest in this area because in the long run, this will be the fore-runners of other youths from the Niger Delta region, who would now leave by example and be of good to those their communities where they come from and by extension the rest of Nigeria.`` 

According to the minister, it is high time Nigerian youths developed more interest in seafaring training to enhance human capital development.

He said the training would be of good assistance to Nigerian youths, adding that presently, Nigeria was lacking human capacity in seafaring.

 

``A lot of people have not keyed into it in the past.

``Rather than build up our own youths to go into this profession, we’ve always preferred to hire foreign hands in this area.

``When we have Nigerians being trained, it will be the beginning of a new area of promoting youths to be responsible leaders of tomorrow.

``Because tomorrow starts today. It is when they are not gainfully employed and their minds and heart are not built with discipline that they will receive on board that will see incidences of oil pipeline busting; promotion of crises; intra-ethnic rivalry over who owns which oil-producing area.

``If they are gainfully employed, that is what we call the real sense of human capital development. This is what we mean by extension.

``Whatever they are getting from their employment, it will fitter down within the family and improve their lives.`` 

He, however, advised the youth who had been opportuned to engage in seafaring training to be disciplined and committed so as to motivate other youths to key into the programme. 

Governor Kwankwaso presents over N210 billion budget for the year 2015 before Kano Assembly.

Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso has presented the sum of over N 210 billion budget estimate for  2015 fiscal year. Governor Kwankwaso  made the presentation today,  at the State House Of Assembly chamber, While observing  ‎the annual budget presentation ceremony . The budget with the theme 'Celebration of Success'  consist of 64 %‎ capital and 36% recurrent expenditure . 

Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso Governor of Kano State

The governor noted that his administration will continue to prioritize education as the sector  was allocated over N18billion, N3  billion for Agriculture ,and  Health about N5 billion. 

He further emphasized his administration will focus on the ongoing capital project accross the state before leaving office in May 2015 . 

Governor Kwankwaso was accompanied by his Commissioners, Special advisers and other  political office holders.  

Oby Ezekwesili urges political leaders to learn from past mistakes.

 Oby Ezekwesili

Ahead of the 2015 General Elections, former Vice-President of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili, has urged political leaders to learn from past mistakes.

Mrs Ezekwesili, who said this in Lagos, expressed worry that political leaders have constantly repeated mistakes without any effort to correct them.

She told journalists that Nigerians are looking forward to see political leaders who are big enough to admit their mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong to correct them. 

SECURITY ON RED ALART ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The Federal Capital Territory and its environs have continued to witness heavy security presence, as measures put in place to ensure hitch free yuletide persist. 

Major-General Chris Olukolade 

A drive round town shows that Military check points where mounted at strategic areas of the FCT as well as entry and exit points into the city.

The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade and the spokesman of the Force Headquarters, Emmanuel Ojuku in separate interviews had earlier assured residents of the FCT and Nigerians of a hitch free yuletide as regular security presence will be witnessed across the country. 

It would be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba had directed all Zonal Commands to deploy adequate man power during and after the Christmas and New Year celebration, to ensure the safety of life and property.    

CHRISTMAS FUNNIES....

Funny pictures from christmas day celebration . 

Nigerians to pay more for inconsistent power, as new electricity tariff structure kicks off today

Beginning from today, electricity consumers in Nigeria will have to pay more, as the Federal Government approves a new tariff structure.

The new tariff will not, however, affect electricity consumers in residential houses, up till after six months, when power supply is expected to have improved nationwide.

Mr Sam Amadi, chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), disclosed this in Abuja, when he signed a N213 billion memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the chief executives of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) .

The NERC boss said “while we ensure that the tariff is cost reflective, it will not constitute a burden on consumers immediately.

Mr Sam Amadi

“For the avoidance of doubt, there will be no increase for residential consumers for, at least, six months until we begin to see improvement.

“We expect that with more gas coming to the power plant because of these facilities and other interventions, in the next two, three months, there will be increase in capacity.

“There will be more reliability and the metering plan that is ongoing, we will be able to ensure that consumers will be much more comfortable.

“We will approve the tariff by tomorrow (today) which is already well known to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the transaction advisers, as well as the participants from the deposit money banks. That tariff is guaranteed. It is going to come into effect by tomorrow (today),” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, recalled that in a meeting in Lagos, the issue of tariff was critically considered and it was decided that it would not weigh down the pockets of Nigerians.

“So, what we are doing here today is to say that yes, we are now at the point where the Nigerian Deposit Money Banks, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are now ready to work together to clear the legacy debts.

“As we clear these debts, the entire chain becomes clear, the business becomes commercially viable for existing investors to continue to do their business and for new investors, who are interested to come into this business and then boost our power and gas sectors in Nigeria,” he noted.

Kwara United gain promotion to NPFL ; Ranchers Bees fined =N=1.2 million after pitch encroachment, beating referee

Charles Ozigbo

Kwara United Football Club yesterday gained promotion to the Nigeria Premier League, courtesy of the decision of the Nigeria National League on its abandoned rescheduled match against Ranchers Bees of Kaduna.

The NNL in a letter to the two clubs signed by its scribe Mr. Lawrence Katken, awarded three points and three goals to the Afonja Warriors in line with article 4.3(1) for Ranchers’ encroachment on the field of play which caused the discontinuation of the match.While Kwara United got the ticket to the premier league, Ranchers Bees was fined N1.2 million and three of its players and two officials were banned for one year each.

The NNL said Ranchers is fined N1, 000,000 in line with article 4.3(1) and 4.3(5) as well as pay the sum of N200, 000 for assault on the match officials. A Referee from Anambra State, Charles Ozigbo received the beating of his life over the weekend at the Fifa Goal Project Technical Centre in Abuja during the National League Week 30 tie between Ranchers Bees and Kwara United after he was pounced on by fans allegedly loyal to Kaduna based Bees.

The initial game between the two teams was abandoned in the 62nd minute at 2-2 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna some weeks ago after Afonja Warriors’ players had to run for safety over threat on their lives from home fans who wanted Ranchers Bees’ return to the top flight at all costs.

Hell was let loose when the referee awarded a penalty against Ranchers Bees and their fans invaded the pitch to pounch on Ozigbo who was beaten to a state of coma before he was eventually rescued.

Ranchers Bees needed a draw to qualify for the premier league after many years in the lower league while a win would see Kwara United gain an instant return to the top flight after a season in the lower cadre.