Author: Toju Ogbe

FG ISSUES FRESH DIRECTIVES TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW VISION FOR NIGER DELTA

The Federal Government has issued a new set of directives in its bid to accelerate the implementation of the Buhari administration’s new vision for the development of the Niger Delta.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, issued the directives at a recent meeting of the inter-ministerial working group following up on the renewed Niger Delta interactive engagements of the Buhari administration.

For instance, the Federal Government has given all contractors including those handling Niger Delta Development Commission projects in the region a 30-day ultimatum from today to return to site or face prosecution.

The Federal Government has also specifically directed that the list of all contractors who have not returned to site within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.

A concerted implementation work plan that would respond to the developmental issues and projects proposed by PANDEF is also being prepared, while fresh mandates are also being issued to all the relevant MDAs as appropriate.

This includes the FG’s directive to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs; Environment; Power, Works and Housing to proceed with the design and implementation of work plans in line with the administration’s new vision for the region.

Ministries and agencies of government involved in furthering the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state, have also been directed to come up with a clear path to the eventual actualisation of the objective including consideration for a possible and timely take-off grant for the university.

The meeting also discussed the plans to continue presidential visits to the remaining States with oil-producing communities so as to effectively conclude the interactive engagements with the people of the region.

Specific instructions have also been given to the Ministry of Environment to ensure and report on the progress of the Ogoni Clean-up, for which a Project Office is now located in Rivers State and is functional.

A directive has also been issued to the Ministry of Environment for a plan to commence considerations for the clean-up of other polluted areas in the oil-producing communities.

The membership of the Niger Delta inter-ministerial group comprises officials from the Presidency, all relevant ministries including the Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta Affairs, Environment, Power, Works and Housing and Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme among other MDAs.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
March 21, 2017

VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO ADVOCATES FOCUS ON CRITICAL, CREATIVE THINKING IN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULAR

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to evolve better teaching and learning techniques that will address contemporary challenges confronting societies in modern times.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this earlier today while receiving a delegation from the West African Examination Council (WAEC), led by its chairperson, Dr Evelyn Kandakai at the Presidential Villa. The Council holds its 65th annual meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Also present at the meeting with the Vice President were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah.

According to Osinbajo, “lately, it has become obvious that we have to make more of our young people to be more entrepreneurial in their approach to everything.’’

Prof. Osinbajo said “It is interesting that we have found ourselves, especially those of us in this part of the world at this time, trying very hard to work out educational systems that is relevant to our people, (and) the requirements of our people.

“Obviously our initial contributions in this sector were inherited from colonial times but it is becoming more evident anyway that we must chart our own course in education and I know that it is a challenge that we face regularly.’’

He said the focus of educators should be on “the kind of subjects, and the kind of teachings that challenge critical thinking and being creative, thinking out of the box’’.

The Vice President added that “it is even more so now than ever before with technology, there is a need for us to meet the requirements of our people.’’

Prof. Osinbajo charged educators to find solutions to society’s contemporary challenges, noting that the political class’ responsibility is to “throw the challenge to the educators and hope that they will be able to give some form of direction as to where society should be heading to.’’

The Vice President commended the present WAEC Council and management for maintaining the institution’s status as the foremost sub-regional examination body which has maintained its standards and quality for many decades.

The chairperson of WAEC, Dr Evelyn Kandakai, had earlier thanked the Vice President for the reception, noting that Nigeria is a big pillar of support to WAEC in all its years of existence.

(54 percent of the institution’s financial burden is borne by Nigeria.)

Dr Kandakai said whatever height the examination body had attained over the years was made possible by Nigeria’s immense contributions both in human and material resources, submitting that WAEC and the West African sub-region remained hugely indebted to Nigeria.

WAEC is a sub-regional educational institution composed of Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
March 20, 2017

World Bank Approves $200 Million Loan for Nigerian Farmers

The World Bank has approved a $200 million loan to Nigeria to support the government’s effort to boost small and mid-scale farmers.

DBN

The loan from the International Development Association, the Bank’s low-interest arm, has a maturity of 25 years with a grace period of five years.

According to the Bank,

“Priority value chains will include products with potential for immediate improvement of food security, products with a potential for export and foreign currency earnings.

The funds will help tackle low yields, lack of seed capital to set up agro-factories, low-level adoption of technology and limited access to markets.

About 60,000 individuals will benefit directly from the funding, of which 35 percent are women. About 300,000 farming households will be affected indirectly.”