Official: 2002 Agreement Between Kogi State Government and Dangote Industries Limited on Obajana Cement Plant
Extracts from the duly signed and stamped agreement:
Agreement between Kogi state Government and Dangote Cement
Project was at conceptual stage in 1992
Preliminary feasibility study carried out in 1992
Obajana Cement Company Plc with Certificate of Incorporation No. RC208767 dated 4th November, 1992 is solely owned by Kogi state
Prospecting Right (Numbered PR No.14 of 2001 No.0053) was issued exclusively to the company
Kogi state offered and transferred 90% of its total shareholding in the company to Dangote Industries Limited
Kogi state is at liberty to sell half of its 10% equity to indigenes of the state by public offer or private placement
Kogi state shall grant Dangote Industries Limited tax waivers and exemption from levies for a period of 7 years from the date of commencement of production
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, has said that more than 116 million people in the African region were estimated to be living with mental health conditions prior to the pandemic.
Furthermore, the exponential rates of alcohol use and abuse among adolescents as young as 13 years of age remain particularly worrisome.
This information, which Moeti shared in a message to mark World Mental Health Day in 2022 with the theme “Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Global Priority,” serves as a reminder that, after nearly three years, the COVID-19 pandemic’s social isolation, fear of illness and death, and difficult socioeconomic conditions have contributed to an estimated 25% global rise in depression and anxiety.
World Mental Health Day, marked on 10 October every year, provides an opportunity to draw attention to Africa’s large and growing burden of mental health conditions, with children and adolescents worst impacted.
According to her: We need to urgently strengthen regulatory systems to close the gaps that allow such young people to easily access alcohol, contributing to heavy episodic drinking rates as high as 80% among teens from 15 to 19. The situation poses a serious threat to their education, while setting the stage for a lifetime of alcohol abuse, and the associated risks of noncommunicable and other related diseases. Inadequate financing for mental health continues to be the biggest limitation, negatively impacting efforts to expand Africa’s mental health workforce. As things stand, there are fewer than two mental health workers for every 100 000 people, the majority of whom are psychiatric nurses and mental health nursing aids. With these scarce resources concentrated at large psychiatric institutions in urban areas, people at community and primary care levels are left critically underserved. For example, while two-thirds of Member States report having guidelines to integrate mental health into primary health care, fewer than 11% are providing pharmacological and/or psychological interventions at this level.
“It is however heartening that up to 82% of our Member States are receiving training on how to manage mental health conditions at primary care level, with up to 74% reporting that specialists are involved in providing appropriate training and supervision to primary health care professionals. African governments have also made some progress on mental health spending, which has risen to 46 US cents per person. But that is still well below the recommended US$2 per person, with mental health not featuring in national health insurance schemes.
“To address the challenge, it is crucial that Member States follow through on the implementation of commitments they made at the Regional Committee in August 2022, when they endorsed the Framework to Implement the Comprehensive Global Action Plan 2013 to 2023 in the WHO African Region. This key document highlights the severe shortage of mental health services on the continent, and makes recommendations for key actions by Member States. Among the developments of which Member States can be proud is the launch of Special Initiative for Mental Health frameworks by Ghana and Zimbabwe. Supported by WHO training, the aim is to strengthen relevant services at lower levels of care. WHO in the African Region is also supporting task-sharing and integration of mental health into multisectoral programmes in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and Mali. Examples include joint tuberculosis and mental health programming in Ghana and Kenya, and joint Neglected Tropical Diseases and mental health efforts in Nigeria. Additionally, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe have been supported to complete mental health investment cases. These provide a valuable base from which to make the case for increased investment in this neglected aspect of our health systems.
“To advance continental efforts towards equitable access to mental, neurological and substance abuse care, I want to take the opportunity today to urge Member States to prioritise the implementation of the Framework to Implement the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan in the WHO African Region. This requires, among other things, increasing government expenditure on relevant services, and mobilising resources from partners”, she explained.
Moeti added that countries especially need to strengthen the mental health and psychosocial response in humanitarian emergencies, including COVID-19 and Ebola, which have a significant negative impact on school-age children and our health care workers. Mental health and psychosocial support are integral to any successful response.
On World Mental Health Day today, let us all commit to work together to deepen the value we afford to mental health, to reshape the environments that negatively impact mental health, and to strengthen the care systems to make mental health care accessible to all Africans.
Faith-based organizations have been urged to continue to provide Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) through targeted interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for those living in and around their areas of influence.
The task was given over the weekend by the FCT Administration’s mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim during the commissioning and handover of a borehole to Kado village, constructed and donated by the Church of Christ, Kado, Lifecamp, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Ibrahim, who described the project as laudable which exemplifies unconditional love for humanity, said the intervention deserves to be emulated by others in the society.
Represented by a Director in the Secretariat, Mrs. Anne Ijeoma, noted that the government cannot carry the whole load of meeting the needs of the people on its head alone, as there has to be intervention from others.
He adds: “Your relationship (with host community) is very important. And if you don’t have good relationship with people around you, there is no amount of preaching you will do, that they will listen to you.
“Christianity is all about love, if there is no love, I’m sure this project will not be here today. The people of Kado have shown love to the Church of Christ, and that is why to let them know that the Church appreciates their love, by providing the water project”.
While commending the Chief of Kado for being there for the people and government of the FCT, the Secretary, if had not be so, the Church of Christ, wouldn’t be there to carry out its activities as well as to do the project.
“You permitted them to be here in Kado, and that is why they want to pay back for your good deeds. This is a good example of evangelism”.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah, also commended the Kado congregation of the Church of Christ for the noble initiative, that would impact positively on the people in the community.
According to him: “We hope to see this project properly maintained. The FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, is keen to get people to understand the fundamentals of what life is.
“And he has been very grateful to the indigenes of the FCT, who have never been violent, but allowing access to their land for development, while also looking at their own interest as well. So we thank you for your good hearts and warm reception that has helped to grow this city”.
Also speaking, Chief of Kado, Esu Danlami Audu, who expressed gratitude to the Church for providing the borehole, said it is the first water supply intervention by a Church for people in the community.
Audu, while his annoyance and dismay over the absence of basic amenities in the community, argued that ” Our local government administrations are supposed to be carrying out these projects (water supply and other amenities), but no one is done by them. But we are happy since NGOs have recognised us, at least it is a big development to me and entire residents of Kado”.
He however made a passionate appeal for provision of standard toilets (convenience) in the community, for the sake of a clean environment.
He said “The recent activities of the FCTA enforcement drive, point to the fact that the government abhors dirty environment, hence the need to continue to sustain the effort.
“My community is a place Kado is a large and peaceful village, we love people to be clean, so continue to do the cleaning. What you are doing, is for the benefit of we, the indigenes of Abuja. You are not doing it for display of power (might). So, we show our appreciation to you”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Bishop of Church of Christ Kado, Peter Egure, disclosed that the project is part of the Church’s way of giving back to her host community.
According to him, “The intervention is coming because we know this community lacks water. It is just a token of our love and good neighbourliness because of the peace, we are enjoying together with the community”.
Also, there was an entertaining charity football match inside Kado Football Field, near the Fish market, in the area, leading up to commissioning of the borehole fully equipped with a big tank, electricity, generator, gatehouse and six dispensing points.
The Federal Government has disclosed that no ransom was paid for the recent release of the remaining 23 victims of the March 23, 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack by terrorists, that left some passengers dead, and many severely injured. The Minister of Transportation, Mu-Azu Sambo disclosed this in Abuja, while briefing journalists on the release of the victims. Sambo insisted that no dime was paid to the abductors of the train victims, as the present administration frowns at monetary negotiation with terrorists.
He said, “I want to state categorically that because this government does not support or approve ransom payment, no Kobo was paid in exchange for the release of the 23 hostages and even for the release of the other hostages”.
He further revealed that the hostages were released based on the efforts of the combined team of retired Generals and some retired public officers of high ranking and status who worked with the military and the security agencies to secure their release.
“The security agencies were charged to ensure no collateral damage was recorded in the process of freeing the victims” Sambo noted that no one victim was hurt.”
The minister added that the victims are receiving required medical attention after their release, as they were taken to the Nigeria Air Force Hospital and are currently recuperating at the Nigeria Defense Academy Hospital in Kaduna state.
On the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna train services, he gave assurance that commercial activities will kick off soon.
The minister assured that both long-term and short-term measures would be put in place to avoid such ugly incidence. He said, the short-term measures will be urgently put in place to ensure the resumption of train services very soon.
“Now, I can tell you, we are going to resume very soon and in order to resume train services, we have to put in place measures that will ensure that going forward such an incident will never ever happen in this country. And so we have a short-term and a long-term plan”.
It could be recalled that, at about 8pm on 28th March, 2022, a train heading to Kaduna from Abuja was attacked by gunmen using explosives on the rail tracks to stop the train.
About 62 persons were kidnapped by the terrorists during the attack. Over the past months, the victims have been released in batches, with the last 23 hostages released as the last batch.
In order to increase access to effective and inclusive basic education system in Federal Capital Territory, FCT, stakeholders in the sector on Thursday, have reiterated their commitment to step up advocacy for accountability and productivity in the system.
Most of the participants at the dialogue, tagged: Demand side-supply side stakeholders dialogue on UBE, organised by Youth Hub Africa, with support of USAID, called for increased intervention from government and private entities in the provision of basic education in FCT.
The participants include representatives of the Accountability For Good Governance in Education (AGGE) project cluster member organisations: Youth Hub Africa, FCT Universal Basic Education (UBEB), Nigerian Governors Forum, Budget and Planning, CODE, Palladium SCALE and civil society groups.
In his remarks, Mr. Auta Emmanuel from FCT UBEB, disclosed that as at last count, FCT has a total of 440 pre-primary schools, 751 primary schools and 199 junior secondary schools.
Auta added that there are available structures that pave way for effective involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of the basic education action plan in the FCT.
He however noted, that the rising influx of people into to Abuja have continued to outstretch the available learning facilities especially at the basic level across the Territory.
While commending the organisation for stepping up the quest for a better education in the society, the FCT-UBEB scribe reiterated the importance of effective basic education in the developmental process of any society.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Segun Medupin, Youth Hub Africa programmes Manager, on behalf Executive Director of the foundation, Rotimi Olawale said the focus of the dialogue on the basic education will have fruitful bearing on other aspects of the sector.
He explained that the AGGE project, running in 4 states and FCT is funded by USAID, to help tackle the current state of basic education in Nigeria and promote inclusivity in the developmental process.
He noted that the dialogue had the following objectives: create opportunity for stakeholders consuming education and those supplying to identify the problems and collectively proffer solutions through dialogue and increase knowledge and strengthen participants’ skills related policy and advocacy tools and approaches.
AGGE cluster with support from strengthening civic advocacy and local engagement, aimed at improving the standard of basic education.
Highlights of the Dialogue was questions, answers and contributions on the presentation AGGE project/results of needs assessment for FCT, Desk review on UBE act and procedures at the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), desk review of UBE fund implementation in 5 states; and business of education: Supply side challenges and solutions.
In a bid to ensure harmonious industrial relationship in the nation’s academic system, the Federal Government has registered two more trade unions in the Nigerian university Academic Sub Sector. The two Unions include Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics NAMDA and Congress of Nigerian University Academics CONUA. Speaking in Abuja at the occasion in Abuja, the Minister of Labour And Employment Senator Chris Ngige who admitted university sub-sector as the major plank of any nation’s social economic growth, said the last eight months have been hell for the nation’s public universities, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities has persisted in the ongoing strike despite government’s attempt for dialogue and reconciliation.
Ngige added that, with the registration, the newly registered trade unions have the right to operate and exercise its powers like every other trade union in the country.
They minister further charged the two newly registered academic trade unions to go ahead and open the nation’s public universities without any fear of intimidation. He added that the development would not forestall further reconciliation process with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU.
“In line with the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act CAP TS, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, this Strike was apprehended & Conciliations were done in this Ministry on February 22, 2022, and March 1, 2022. However, all efforts at conciliation failed resulting in the transmission of the trade dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, for adjudication in line with the statutory trade dispute resolution processes.
“Ministry of Labour and Employment set up a committee to look into the merit of their application, adding that the committee saw merit in the application and recommended approval for the registration of the Association by the Registrar of Trade Unions, RTU, since 2020 But for the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and the recurring ASUU Strike, this would have been done.
“At the NICN, an Interlocutory Injunction Order was obtained asking the Union to get back to work while the substantive suit is being heard; an order ASUU leadership and members refused to obey. Interestingly, a lot of university teachers in the public universities had indicated their willingness to get back to work while negotiations continue but were obstructed by ASUU officials, while the VCs looked on helplessly,” he said.
He explained that Section 3(2) of the Trade Unions Act, CAP. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, 2004 gives the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers.
“They are also to have members in the Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited, NUPEMCO, and being on CONUAS Salary Structure/Scheme, they are equally entitled to Earned Academic Allowances, EAA, and all other allowances attached thereto. ASUU despite bickering experienced protests from a large majority of her members including CONUA and NAMDA members.
“These Associations will exist side by side with ASUU in the Nigerian Universities in the spirit and tenets of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Core Convention nos. 87 & 98 which are respectively on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; as well as the enthronement of the four (4) pillars and principles of the Decent Work Agenda, DWA, considered necessary for social justice and equity in the world of work.
“They are accordingly entitled to all rights and privileges accruing to such academic Association/organisation including but not limited to receiving check off dues of their members in accordance with Section 17 of the Trade Unions Act,” he added.
The Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, has been closed down by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS).
On Wednesday afternoon, a staff member hint our correspondent that the development had occurred and that “in fact, I’m on my way home as we speak.”
Our correspondent gathered that the company had been sealed by the KGIRS due to tax fraud and acquisition issues.
The Kogi State House of Assembly reportedly supported the action.
According to Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information: “Pursuant to the Constitutional authorities of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and upon petition by the people of Kogi State, an investigation was carried out on the acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote Company.
“It was found that no valid acquisition took place, as Dangote could not show evidence of what was paid as consideration for the acquisition.
“The legislators invited the Chairman of the Company, Aliko Dangote, before the house for explanations but he failed to appear before the state assembly, giving excuses.
“The House of Assembly therefore ordered the closure of the company pending when they are able to present it with credible evidence of a valid acquisition.”
At 16.25Mta capacity across five lines, Dangote’s cement factor at Obajana is the largest of its three factories in Nigeria.
The company is owned by Dangote Group, which is founded by Nigerian business magnate, Aliko Dangote.
When Evangelist Innocent Agu resumed his role as the congregational preacher of the Church of Christ, Karu-Jikwoyi Congregations on Sunday, it was a joyful time of praise, worship, and admonition.
After the regular Sunday church service, there was a quick unveiling ceremony in the church auditorium.
Speaking at the occasion, Evangelist Moses Obakemi of the Church of Christ Nyanya exhorted the congregation’s new Preacher to demonstrate a strong commitment and dedication to duty. He advised him to maintain his focus while preparing souls for heaven. He commanded him to be humble in his service and to avoid considering God’s people to be his subjects.
He also charged the new Preacher and his family to maintain high moral standards as both the Church and community now see them as standards for measuring God’s people.
Evangelist Obakemi also charge members of the congregation to support the new Evangelist and take good care of him so that he would put in his best to grow the Church.
Also speaking Evangelist Imoh Atakpa of the Church of Christ, Kubwa enjoined Preacher and congregants to be passionately committed to the course of heaven and the welfare of one another.
He admonish the church to brace up for more duties noting that the new preacher is coming with strong zeal to Reposition the church.
In his speech, The New Preacher promise to do all to ensure that the church grows spiritually and work in compliance with the Teachings and doctrines of Christ.
Evangelist Innocent Agu told members that his first task is to ensure total unity amongst Brethren. He pointed out that his main goal is to prepare believers for heaven and expand the frontiers of the gospel of Christ.
While thanking the Evangelists who graced the occasion, he called on members to brace up for more works in God’s vineyard.
Highpoint of the event was the offering of special prayers for the new Preacher, his family as well as the congregation
The Federal Government has advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cease taking laws into its hands by directing its members to continue with the 8-month old strike in defiance of the interlocutory injunction by the National Industrial Court (NICN) which restrained the union from further action.
In a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, the Minister Senator Chris Ngige said a new directive by ASUU, exhorting its members to continue with action is an unwarranted lawlessness, noting that “the Federal Government strongly frowns at this .”
He accused the leadership of the union of misinforming and misleading its members and warned of consequences of contempt of court order.
“ The union is dishonest and misleading its members and the general public, that it has filed an appeal as well has a stay of execution of the order of National Industrial Court on September 21, 2022, though it has none of this.
“ Rather, ASUU only filed an application for a permission to appeal the order. It also attached to the application, a proposed notice of appeal which it intends to file if the leave to appeal is granted. The application for a stay of execution as of this moment, has not even been listed for hearing. Where then is ASUU coming from?
“It is therefore contemptuous, dishonest and misleading for the union to tell its members that it has not only appealed the interlocutory injunction by the National Industrial Court, directing it to call off strike and return to work, but that it also has a stay of execution.” The Minister once again called on the union to respect the court order and return to work while negotiations are concluded on the remaining issues in contention.
The statement also denied reports that the Minister walked out on the meeting between the House of Representatives and ASUU last Thursday, 29 September , 2022. It said the Minister left the meeting to attend to other pressing matters with the permission of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila after making his presentation. It stated that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was earlier granted such permission by the Speaker.
The statement further recalled that at that meeting , Senator Ngige addressed the two major issues over which ASUU is still on strike. “On renegotiation of salaries and wages of lecturers, I sympathize with ASUU just like other Nigerian workers. The economy is bad and hard time, biting hard on everybody. ASUU deserves no blame. They know that many times during reconciliation, I said that left to me, this is what lecturers will get. I know the enormity of the work they do and have brothers who are also lecturers.
“The Briggs Committee was the product of reconciliation of my ministry, which had to move to the ASUU’s direct employers – Ministry of Education for a Collective Bargaining Agreement, so we can arrive on what is good to be paid to ASUU , subject to approval by the President
“ The President has a Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages chaired by the Minister of Finance, with myself as co-chair and other members – National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Budget Office etc. Every MDA whether drawing from the treasury or not , must pass through this committee on any issue concerning salaries for approval, before transmission to the President. The report of the Briggs Committee did not unfortunately pass this route.”
The Minister revealed that when the issue of payment platform – UTAS came up on January 9, 2020, he was the one that persuaded the President to give the platform a trial in the spirit of Executive Order 3 and 4.
“The SGF supported me. That was how I took it upon myself to write to all the parties, Communication and Digital Economy, NITDA, ASUU and others. At a point, I had to spend three and half hours at the Office of the Accountant General, while UTAS was on demonstration because we must support this platform that promised to save us foreign exchange.
“ If the system is good, we adopt it for the whole country but meanwhile – the hardware is not there. How do you do it? The test- the three of them – IPPIS, UTAS, UPPPS have failed the test. Do you recommend something that has failed a test? . So, no matter how I love ASUU, I won’t support something that failed a test.
“ I had advised ASUU when the first result came, to have UTAS do a handshake with IPPIS so as to capture all the university system peculiarities. They accepted but while negotiation was going on , they went on strike.”
The Minister also narrated how the medical doctors once threatened to go on strike over IPPIS.
“But their peculiarities have now been captured by IPPISS, even those teaching in the universities with special allowances . About a year ago, NARD wrote me that they would go on strike if we don’t put them on IPPIS. This is because all their peculiarities have captured and no one is losing anything.
An official of the German government has revealed that they have given more than 200 million euros over the past 20 years in the fight against polio eradicate.
Mr. Vincent El-Haidag, KfW Portfolio Manager for the German Government Credit Institute for Reconstruction Mission gave this revelation when they visited the Family Health Clinic in Garki on Wednesday in Abuja.
The German and Nigerian governments, according to him, have partnered in the effort to eradicate polio.
According to him: “We are responsible for the financial cooperation between the government of Germany and government of Nigeria in the fight against polio. Germany has been contributing over 200 million euros for the last 20 years and KfW is facilitating this programme and also giving recommendations to the government of Germany.”
El-Haidag disclosed that the team was in Nigeria to monitor and assess progress made so far in the eradication of polio in the country.
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) is an international organisation that works together with its partners in developing countries.
“This is in order to identify projects/programmes which promote sustainable development. We were able to see very good examples in ranges of services that addresses basic health needs of children and women.”
He said the example they saw in the Family Health Clinic needed to be duplicated in all the primary health care centres in the country.
El-Haidag advised the government to also duplicate same efforts done in polio eradication in the fight against other disease in the country.
While speaking, Dr. Vatsa Isa-Yahaya, the Acting Director, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, acknowledged that the team was a mission from Germany and had been supporting Nigeria in polio eradication.
Isa-Yahaya noted that Germany was one of the countries which had been providing the resources which has been supporting in polio eradication.
He said the team members were taken round the facility to see for themselves how the country has made progress with the fund given to Nigeria.
Isa-Yahaya said that from the look of things, they are very happy with what they saw at the Family Health Clinic.
“The team is happy with the progress made in the centre, especially in the areas of immunisation, family planning, antenatal services and COVID-19 vaccination.”
Isa-Yahaya called on Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination as the virus was still in the country, “The vaccination is free and safe, so people should endeavour to take the vaccine.”
The Acting Director said the Federal Government was doing a lot in the fight against diseases in the country and not just waiting for assistance from donors.
