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CAS RESTATES COMMITMENT TO HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMISSIONS NEW STUDENTS’ HOSTELS AS AFIT GRADUATES 435 PERSONNEL FROM SUNDRY COURSES

CAS RESTATES COMMITMENT TO HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMISSIONS NEW STUDENTS’ HOSTELS AS AFIT GRADUATES 435 PERSONNEL FROM SUNDRY COURSES

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has restated the commitment of the current Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Administration to human capacity development for enhanced professional performance. This, he said, was to ensure that NAF personnel possess the requisite knowledge and skill sets to effectively support NAF operations. The CAS made this known today, 21 September 2020, at the graduation ceremony of 435 personnel of Initial Officers’ and Basic Airmen/Airwomen Sundry Military Courses, comprising 75 officers and 360 airmen/airwomen, at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna. Today’s occasion also featured the commissioning of 2 blocks of female hostels constructed by the NAF Investment Limited (NAFIL) for students of AFIT.

Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that for over 40 years AFIT had consistently trained officers and airmen/airwomen who are performing creditably in supporting NAF operations as specialists in aircraft and armament engineering, works and services, supply management as well as Information and Communication Technology. The CAS expressed his satisfaction that AFIT was able to successfully complete the training of 760 personnel during the year, including the 435 graduating students, despite the COVID-19 Pandemic. He added that the technical and logistics management courses conducted by AFIT have helped tremendously to reduce dependence on expatriates and thus save foreign exchange for the Nation. “The execution of air operations in theatres across Nigeria, using solely Nigerian crews, engineers, technicians and controllers, is a testament of the success story of our capacity building initiatives,” the CAS said.

The CAS further noted that in the area of pilots’ training, 2 officers, including the first female fighter pilot, were about to conclude their tactical training on the Alpha Jet aircraft, while 29 officers of Student Pilots’ Course 46 (SP 46) recently completed their ab-initio pilot training. Air Marshal Abubakar equally disclosed that, on 18 September 2020, 24 Special Forces (SF) personnel qualified as rappelling instructors, while another 219 Regiment personnel commenced training at the Regiment Training Centre Annex in Bauchi to become NAF SF personnel. He observed that the courses would undoubtedly have positive impact on the NAF’s operations, thus further positioning the Service into a highly professional and disciplined force.

While congratulating the graduands for their steadfastness, tenacity of purpose and grit to complete their course work, Air Marshal Abubakar reminded them that the initial and basic courses were just the beginning of their journey as professionals in the NAF. According to him, tough as the training might have been, it was to ensure that they all had the necessary skills to function effectively in their areas of specialization. He charged them to be good and worthy ambassadors of AFIT as they join a long line of outstanding graduates of the prestigious citadel of learning who, through excellence and commitment, have contributed to the success of the NAF.

The CAS expressed his sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continuous support to the NAF. He said the invaluable support the NAF had enjoyed over the years has placed the Service in a position to tackle the challenges of insurgency and other forms of insecurity across the Nation. While commending the Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Abdulganiyu Olabisi, as well as the instructors, the CAS enjoined them not to rest on their oars as they seek ways and means to further improve on their already sterling performance. He assured them of the NAF’s commitment to continually upgrade facilities and support training efforts in AFIT within the limits of available resources.

In his welcome address, the Commandant AFIT, while appreciating the relentless support of Headquarters NAF, stated that the basic courses were aimed at introducing the officers and men to their various trades in preparation for deployment to the field. According to him, the skills acquired at the training would enable them carry out their responsibilities at the basic level while they ready themselves for more specialized functions as they progress in their careers. The initial training in aircraft maintenance, he said, serves as their first engagement which would inculcate safety practices and quality assurance procedures in line with international standards and best practices. The Commandant stated further that the Logistics and Procurement courses exposed the students to warehouse management, storage, transport procedures as well as the procurement process. “In achieving the training objectives, resources both human and financial, were judiciously applied to ensure adequate coverage of theoretical and practical aspects of the various courses”, he noted.

The Managing Director (MD) NAFIL, Air Commodore Uchechi Nwagwu, while making his remarks during the commissioning of the female students’ hostels, stated that the Company embarked on the project in response to the accommodation challenge faced by AFIT. He noted that NAFIL had earlier built an Arena comprising a cafeteria, students’ common room and 31 shops located within the male students’ hostel of the Institute. “The hostels have been built to meet highly acceptable standards of a tertiary students’ hostel as the rooms are not only all ensuite, but equally fitted with individual kitchenettes for added convenience of their occupants”. The MD disclosed that due to judicious management of approved funds to construct the hostels, some savings were made, which were used to procure beds and mattresses for all the anticipated occupants, thereby adding additional value to the project. He added that NAFIL had also extended its easy-ride services to AFIT with the provision of 4 six-seater passenger tricycles to convey students from the hostels to other facilities around the Institute.

The Initial and Basic Courses, which commenced about a year ago, included the Engineering Officers’ Initial Course, Initial Officers’ Armament Maintenance Course, Initial Logistics and Procurement Management Officers’ Course and Initial Electrical/Electronics/Radar/Information Technology Officers’ Course. Other courses were the Basic Airmen Aircraft Maintenance Course – Air Frame and Power Plant Option, Basic Airmen Maintenance Course – Avionics Option as well as the Basic Airmen Logistics and Procurement Course.

Highlights of the colourful graduation ceremony, which had the Chairman House Committee on Ports and Harbours, Honourable Garba Mohammed, as well as other dignitaries and senior military officers in attendance, included the presentation of certificates to the graduating students as well as presentation of awards to those who distinguished themselves during the various courses. Among the award winners were Flying Officer Godwin Oluyomi and Aircraftwoman Deborah Umoru who emerged as the Best-All-Round Officer and Airwoman with CGPAs of 4.89 and 4.75 respectively. The event also featured an exhibition of some of the Research and Development projects executed by the graduating students.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force

NCC Moves to Review International Termination Rate for Voice Services

NCC Moves to Review International Termination Rate for Voice Services

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on a cost-based study to set the new pricing regime for mobile international termination rate (ITR) for inbound international voice calls in the country.

The ITR is the rate paid to local operators by international operators to terminate calls in Nigeria.

As part of the process for the rate determination, the Commission has organised a virtual stakeholder engagement forum with relevant industry stakeholders to intimate them with the ongoing cost-based study and the need to cooperate with Messrs Payday Advance and Support Services Limited, the consultants engaged to carry out the study.

Addressing the stakeholders in Abuja recently, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the study has become imperative following the various implementation constraints arising from contending industry and market dynamics that met previous efforts at finding an optimum price for the termination of international voice services in Nigeria.

Danbatta, who was represented at the forum by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Adeleke Adewolu, said through the new ITR pricing, the Commission will be able to balance the competing objectives of economic efficiency and allowing operators the latitude to generate reasonable revenue.

The EVC, however, explained that in 2013, the Commission issued a determination stating that mobile termination rate (MTR) rates were the same irrespective of where the call originated, a clause he said was largely misconstrued by operators at that time to mean that ITR should be the same rate as the MTR.

He said this led to operators ignoring the international cost portion, where ITRs were agreed at MTR level without a positive residual to cover the costs of the international leg for local operators.

“As a result of this, the ITRs continued to decline, in line with the MTR glide path and as the ITR was set in Naira, it suffered a further downward slide in dollar terms following the currency devaluation. Ironically, the Nigerian operators paid the international operators in dollars to deliver international calls which created an imbalance of payments as the ITR in Nigeria declined,” he said.

As a result, Danbatta said Nigerian operators’ profitability and commercial results were negatively affected putting Nigeria’s ITR below that of most countries with which it makes and receives the most calls, thereby making Nigerian operators perpetual net payers.

“This has, therefore, led to undue pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves, which continue to get depleted by associated net transfers to foreign operators on account of this lop-sidedness, hence the need for Nigeria, with volatile currencies, to regulate the ITR to prevent or mitigate the imbalance of payments with international operators,” the EVC said.

According to Danbatta, where ITR is not properly regulated, it tends to have a negative effect on a market like Nigeria with major supply-side challenges and associated socio-economic implications.

“So, setting a rate substantially above the MTR has resulted in a number of repercussions. One of such is the consumer shift to online channels as calls are increasingly made through Internet Protocol (IP)-based technologies such as Skype and WhatsApp because of high international call prices. To this end, an economically-efficient ITR that is cost-based will maximise economic benefits to all stakeholders,” Danbatta told the stakeholders.

Earlier in her remarks, Director, Policy, Competition & Economic Analysis, Yetunde Akinloye, said the forum is aimed at formally engaging with and sharing the perspectives and insights of industry stakeholders and ultimately enlisting their collective support in relation to the inputs and requirements towards the determination of a mutually- realistic ITR in Nigeria.

She noted that the project commenced on March 10, 2020 with a kick-off meeting but was stalled by the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating the need to explore emerging channels of engagement to move forward and ensure the completion of the project.

Akinloye reiterated the Commission’s commitment to continuously provide a conducive environment and level-playing field for the effective interplay of factors that would sustain market development and growth, while ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications regulatory services for the benefit of country

OHANEZE NDI IGBO BRINGS “IRI JI” FESTIVAL TO ABESAN ESTATE LAGOS

OHANEZE NDI IGBO BRINGS “IRI JI” FESTIVAL TO ABESAN ESTATE LAGOS

The apex and foremost sociocultural association of the igbo people known as Ohaneze ndi igbi, Abesan Chapter under Mosan Okunola LCDA which is under Alomosho LGA would be having their inuagural New Yam Festival, in line with covid-19 social distancing this coming Sunday, which is 27th September 2020 at Amen Centre, Abesan Estate, Near Gowon Estate , Ipaja Lagos.

Speaking on the importance of the celebration, the chairman of Ohaneze, Abesan Chapter, Moses Amobichukwu Nwokoro said that ” we want to use this festival to showcase the igbo culture and let the world know that though we are still in modern times and in Diaspora, we are in tune with our culture and it will also avail our children born outside igbo land to have a feel of what a New yam festival is. For the sake of cultural continuity and posterity. “

The Chapter Chairman added that ” I thank all the members for the support they have given me during this short term and also special thanks to Solomon Ogbonna , the Lagos State Ohaneze Ndi Igbo President General , we appreciate the impact that he has made in the lives of ndi igbo and how he has intervened when called upon.”Moses Amobichukwu Nwokoro said.

“Also special thanks to the Alimosho Local Government Chairman person Hon. Priness Olabisi Adebajo. Also let’s not Chikadiba Jumbo Eze Igbo na Mosan Okunla local government.Mr Chris Ohaneze Mosan Okunla LCDA. Their support and understanding have been wonderful”,The Chapter Chairman opined.

The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the rainy season. Though originally igbo culture, other neighboring tribes have adopted this noble culture to suit their peculiarities.

Historically according to citations on wikipedia, the New Yam Festival is therefore a celebration depicting the prominence of yam in the social-cultural life of Igbo people. The evening prior to the day of the festival, all old yams (from the previous year’s crop) are consumed or discarded. The next day, only dishes of yam are served at the feast, as the festival is symbolic of the abundance of the produce.

The chairman of Ohaneze ( Abesan ) reiterated that the new yam festival is designed to showcase the beautiful culture of the igbo ethnic group. He invited igbos living in Egbeda, Ipaja and Gowon environs to grace the occasion in their native traditional attires. The day is symbolic of enjoyment after the cultivation season, and the plenty is shared with friends and well-wishers.

Ohaneze ndi igbo ,Abesan Chapter has engaged in a lot of interventionist programs, helping members, assisting people to scale their business and in line with the principle of Onye Aha Na Nwanne ya and that of Nwanne Di Na Mba, the association under the youthful chairman has evolved and is working in tandem with the position of the Secretariat at Enugu.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria. The group represents all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria. Igbos by census, represent one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Anthony Emeka Nwosu

ABA UNVIELS WORLD CLASS FURNITURE FACTORY

ABA UNVIELS WORLD CLASS FURNITURE FACTORY

Aba the ever busy city of Abia state the home of Enyimba FC who has won African cup back to back isn’t all about football, the Elephant city is also famous, very famous for fabrication especially leather works. Adding value to leather such as shoes, bags etc are what the city is known for but furniture is a different kettle of fish. Cities like Benin are known for furniture business but as it stands today , Aba is leapfrogging

With the establishment of an ultra modern factory that can rival the Italians, Hallowed Hands Furniture Company Limited at KM4 Aba/Enugu Express Way, Umuimo, Osisioma LGA, Aba, Abia State is minting out world class furniture.

Sam Hart, the director general of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency said that “One of the objectives of the #MadeInAbia Campaign was to get manufacturing industries to come to Aba to set up their factories.”

He added that “We tagged it #MakeInAbia Campaign. It is yielding fruit. Brethren, I present to you, Hallowed Hands Furniture Company Limited, Aba, Abia State.’

The company has installed State-of-the-art equipment and machinery operated by highly skilled craftsmen. With the modern furniture making machineries and competent craftsmen with world class finishing, stakeholders have opined that this would save Nigeria foreign exchange used in importation of furnitures from Italy and China.

Anthony Emeka Nwosu

Customs Intercepts Dozens ATM, other Items from Dubai Returnees

Customs Intercepts Dozens ATM, other Items from Dubai Returnees

Few days after thousands of ATMs and sim cards were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Lagos International Airport, Officers of the Nigeria Customs at the Abuja Airport have again arrested two travellers carrying dozens of ATMs among other items.

The suspects – Sadiq Abubakar and Abdulsalam Umar arrived Nigeria from Dubai on board Ethiopian airline on Wednesday.

Items seized from the suspects were 4,384 memory cards, 78 active ATM cards, 20 pieces of new mobile phones, and 62 bluetooth devices.

While handing over the suspects to officials of the EFCC, the Customs Area Controller, FCT Command, Comptroller Patience Burromvyat mni. said the suspects were arrested while conducting routine examination of goods at the International wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The suspects have since been handed over to officials of the EFCC at the FCT Area Command of Customs for further investigation.

CHIOMA IWUAGWU, CYBERDOME’S MD REITERATES THEIR READINESS TO COMBAT CYBER THREATS

CHIOMA IWUAGWU, CYBERDOME’S MD REITERATES THEIR READINESS TO COMBAT CYBER THREATS

Cyber Security is one thing that nations all over the world and Nigeria inclusive are perturbed.To effectively combat the threat of Cyber Security and crime, the Nigerian senate are likely to enact robust laws against all forms of cybercrime. This position was made known when senate committee on information and communication technology (ICT) visited CyberDome office in Abuja. CyberDome has been noted to be one of the few IT firms in the country that has deployed robust cyber security applications and tools in the country. These deployments are totally in sync with what is applicable in many advanced economies.


Speaking with the media, an impressed senator, Oseni Yakubu expressed worries over the rampant occurrence of cyber attacks in the country. He stated that there are bills that is on their way to ensure that Nigerians are protected from cyber attacks such as hacking, phishing etc.


“What the national assembly is doing is basically to forestall cyber-attacks. Unfortunatel, our youths are engaged in Cyber crimes and this is alarming. But be rest assured that the National Assembly isn’t sleeping on this. There are bills in the works that would strengthen the fight against this malaise…I can tell you that this bill isn’t an executive bill but a private bill and there will be speedy passage”, Yakubu opined.
He said that CyberDome Nigeria have a lot of clients patronising them and there is need to protect the identities of these clients. We are hopeful that others can cue in and patronise the world class company.


The Managing Director of CyberDome Nigeria, Chioma Iwuagwu said that the organisation has the capacity and experience to protect critical infrastructure across the country. Conceived as a world class multi secret service provider, the company has deployed bespoke cyber security solutions such as infrastructural analysis and monitoring. With footprints in many sectors of the economy such as energy, finance, healthcare and even public service.


“Basically, what we are doing is to make sure that our security solutions are in line with the business goal of our clients…what we try to do is to be a step ahead of the attackers such that we are able to prevent, detect and respond to cyber security challenges swiftly”, Chioma said.


ANTHONY EMEKA NWOSU

OSIBANJO PLEASED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EKO FASHION HUB

OSIBANJO PLEASED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EKO FASHION HUB

Medium and small businesses (MSMESs) have been noted to be pivotal to any economic development. The Federal Government of Nigeria realise the crucial role they play in scaling of the economy and has devoted much energy to ensure that enabling environment are created for them to thrive in the country.

Having said the,the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Osibanjo said in a post that “MSMEs are the engine room of the Nigerian economy and the Federal Government remains deeply committed to creating a more business friendly environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive.”

“One of the ways, the FG has shown its commitment is through the MSME Clinics Initiative. The Clinic extends business support services to small businesses across the country. The MSMEs Shared Facility Scheme is a core component”, he added.

“I was pleased to virtually commission the Eko Fashion Hub 1. It is a Fashion Cluster Shared Facility for MSMEs. The cluster seeks to provide high-quality operating equipment which small businesses can access at a reasonable cost, within a conducive space”,on the commissioning of a fashion hub in Lagos.

The Eko Fashion Hub 1 is strategically located by the old Alade market, just off the Allen Avenue roundabout, one of the leading commercial hubs on the continent and is equipped with first-rate machines and equipment. I am told it will service 380 MSMEs daily, & 136,800 yearly.

The choice of Alade Market and the general Allen Avenue area was a unanimous one arising from extensive consultations between the Federal Government’s MSME Clinics project, the Lagos State Government and the fashion cluster in Lagos.

“With its full-scale production line, this hub will enable production of a diverse range of clothing and garments. Very soon, the products of the hub will be ubiquitous on the streets and in stores around the country”, he added.

On the role of the president on the scaling of businesses Osibanjo added that President @MBuhari has also approved the implementation of the MSME Survival Fund as part of the ESP to cushion the impact of COVID19. The Fund is a payroll support scheme which will provide 50,000 in monthly salaries to staff of qualifying businesses for 3 months.

Anthony Emeka Nwosu

EDO ELECTIONS: ARE WE ACTUALLY GETTING IT RIGHT? ARE WE LOOKING AT IT SOLUTIONS?

EDO ELECTIONS: ARE WE ACTUALLY GETTING IT RIGHT? ARE WE LOOKING AT IT SOLUTIONS?

Can’t we do this in the technology form? One thing we have refused to do is tryout new things and evolve. I look at the Edo elections and ask myself why the showmanship? Why has Benin become a pilgrimage? Why are the big players from the NEWS (North, East, West and South ) there? Why can’t we use technology? Countries all-over the world are thinking on the best way to have a clear and transparent elections becomes imminent for them and e-voting is the way to go!

Edo Elections should have been a case study or a reference point how indigenous technology can be deployed. Having lived in Benin City (Upper Siluko) for years, I can say that a lot of Edo folks are disenfranchised! Edo indigenous population are highly itinerant in nature. They are in all parts of thee globe and as we have this election, trust me about 30% – 35% of adults that can decide on who rules and leads are out! This shouldn’t be so and I know that… Also I have many Edo friends that are techies and have built world-class solutions in the area of ICT and what is my take ?

INEC should as a matter of priority work with the IT folks and develop resilient election platforms. These platforms would be in forms of USSD technology and online technology that is highly encrypted that must have passed through lots of penetration and vulnerabilities testing. If you are into it you will understand these terms.

The platform would register voters , embedded with AI (artificial intelligence ) and machine learning, the platform can identify double boring ann’s nullifies one, get results in real time with front end data and analytics. The platform as a matter of fact should be mobile friendly and compatible with any OS! Online or syncs online which can be integrated with a USSD technology for those that don’t have smart phones but feature phones . It is a simple technology. We can host it here in Nigeria , we have tons of Data centres that are tier III and have backup and disaster recovery in the cloud. We can use azure, Microsoft or anyone. But for the sake of latency and data sovereignty we have to host local.

What are the benefits, it is cheaper, this solution wouldn’t coast upto even half a billion, it saves the much scarce resources that would be used to build other infrastructure. It makes the apolitical and those averse to voting due to the gragraism and violent nature associated with our brand of election vote. People can vote from their homes and monitor the elections via online frontend analytics. Those in Diaspora can vote and elections trends can be studied. With this information we can know places that voted, how they voted and their methods of voting. Age, sex and even occupation can be deducted via the analytics. In Edo states hundreds of security personnel be it police, military etc are being drafted to ensure that there is peace and safety during and after election. With ICT deploy in our electoral system we can have these set of people drafted elsewhere.

What we need is more of touchscreen monitor in electoral booths not ballots. E voting is totally possible once the system is encrypted and secured. People can come to election booth and vote via the touchscreen and have their votes printed.

Is it possible? Yes! What we have to do is to engage the software developers and ICT folks in the country.

With the online voting, Nigerians any part of the world would vote. As countries are thinking seriously on how to curb cost and resduce operational expenditures (OpEx) the need to start tinkering on technology becomes imperative. As we tilt seriously to the 2023 election, now the political gladiators and spectators are bracing up, the need to deploy technology must be in the minds of the umpire who is INEC!

Anthony Emeka Nwosu

NURSERY, DAYCARE REMAIN CLOSED AS SANWO-OLU APPROVES REOPENING OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

NURSERY, DAYCARE REMAIN CLOSED AS SANWO-OLU APPROVES REOPENING OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Lagos State Government has granted permission for the re-opening of basic and secondary schools, although with a note of caution to private proprietors and public administrators.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a briefing on Saturday, ordered the resumption of all public and private schools from September 21, 2020, but only pupils in Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3) and Senior Secondary School Two (SSS 2) are allowed to resume for physical classes in public schools.

The Governor said the public schools’ resumption would allow the JSS 3 pupils to revise and prepare for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) slated for October 12, 2020. Pupils in SSS 2, Sanwo-Olu said, will use the period to prepare for their transitional exams to SSS 3.

Unlike the resumption schedule for the public schools, the Governor permitted all levels of class in private schools to resume, but with strong advice to private school owners to consider implementing a staggered daily resumption schedule and classes on alternate days during the week.

But, all pre-primary school classes, including nursery, daycare centres and kindergarten, in both public and private schools are not permitted to open.

Sanwo-Olu said: “It has become necessary to issue clarifications regarding the resumption of schools, in order to clear any confusion that may have arisen since the resumption date was announced. Public Schools will adopt a phased protocol for resumption of physical classes. Students in JSS 3 and SSS 2 in public schools in Lagos are to resume physical classes from September 21.

“In the same vein, all private primary and secondary schools are permitted to resume from September 21. We have strongly advised school owners and managers to put safety first and open in phases similar to the announced schedule for public schools.

“School owners and managers are advised to seriously consider implementing a staggered daily resumption schedule, classes on alternate days during the week, and utilization of distance learning methods as a complement to physical classes. All pre-primary – nursery, daycare and kindergarten – classes and schools in both public and private schools must remain closed.”

The Governor said all re-opened schools must comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by the State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). He said the Department would monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness.

He said: “For all other public school classes in primary school and JSS 1, JSS 2, and SSS 1, announcements for resumption will be made as soon as the State Government is satisfied that all necessary resumption protocols have been put in place.

“In the meantime, these yet-to-resume classes in public schools are expected to continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms (online, radio, television and WhatsApp) pending the announcement of dates for physical resumption.”

From next week, Sanwo-Olu said all primary and secondary schools in the State that have more than two-storey structures will be subjected to integrity test to ensure the safety of pupils. The Governor spoke against the backdrop of the Saturday collapse of Excel Secondary School – a private school – in Ejigbo area of the State.

The school, Sanwo-Olu observed, flouted the State’s structural regulations, resulting in its collapse. He directed the complete demolition of the failed structure, while directing the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to embark on integrity test on all schools’ structures.

Sanwo-Olu also granted permission for the immediate reopening of cinemas and gyms, but with a maximum of 33 per cent occupancy, stressing that there must be a minimum of two empty seats between occupied seats in the cinemas.

In the case of gyms, the Governor said there must be constant disinfection of machines and equipment throughout the day.

He said the State Government would be taking definite decisions on the reopening of night-clubs, bars, event centers, spas, public parks next month, warning that dire consequences awaited those in this category that may want to flout the restrictive order.

During the briefing, Sanwo-Olu further eased the restrictions on houses of worships, permitting observation of daily prayers in mosques and granting mid-week services in churches.

He said: “As regards our places of worship, we are now also permitting the mosques to resume their five times a day prayers; and in the case of churches, they are now also permitted to resume their mid-week services. We must not forget that the Coronavirus pandemic is still very much with us, and we must therefore strive to prioritise the safety of all our children, teachers, parents, and the entire society.”

Since resumption of international flights, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government had worked closely with the Federal Government and the Port Health Authority to monitor all flights arriving and departing the State.

He said Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recorded a total of 50 flights since September 5, carrying a total of 8,000 passengers.

“Despite this inbound volume of passengers, the number of COVID-19 positive still remains on the downward trend at under five per cent,” he said.

GOV. UZODINMA TOURS WALTER SMITH MODULAR REFINERY

GOV. UZODINMA TOURS WALTER SMITH MODULAR REFINERY

His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma has toured the Walter Smith Modular Refinery, located in Ohaji Egbema, Imo State. In the company of the Governor was Nigeria’s Information Minister, ALH. Lai Mohammed.

The Governor at the tour, commended the high level of skills deployed at the Refinery, stating that the local content act has become a success story.

He further expressed joy that soon crude oil will be refined in the state, positing that the development will impact positively on the economy of Imo State as well as empower the people.

On his part, the Minister of Information, National Orientation, culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated that the Walter Smith Modular Refinery is a good example of reintegration of resources as it will reduce exportation and stabilize the economy.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed also stated that by 13th October, 2020, the Refinery will be producing 5000 barrels of oil as well as produce 5 major oil products.

Abdul Razaq Isah, Chairman of Walter Smith Modular Refinery stated that the essence of the Modular Refinery project is to enhance energy, security and Cordination for the Nation.

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GovernmentofSharedProsperity

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