Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Friday announced that the Administration will engage extensively in staff development commencing in the third quarter of 2021.
This, he claims, is part of an effort to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) employees in order to provide better service to inhabitants of the nation’s capital and Nigerians in general.
He made the announcement when the 57th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mrs Comfort Eyitayo visited his office in Garki, Abuja.
Adesola hinted that the Nigerian Civil Service, which is the engine room of government, has undergone a paradigm shift from what it used to be to a digitally driven one, run by highly intelligent and reputable officers, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by his Press Secretary to FCT Permanent Secretary, Tony Odey.
He, on the other hand, advocated for the necessity to lubricate the system in order to ensure the long-term viability of the highly digitalized and capable Civil Service by continuous upscaling of officers’ skills and capacity.
According to him : “The Civil Service is no longer what it used to be. Today, when some people come around, they ask, civil servants, you are proficient in computer like this? Today, we are building a Civil Service that is run by persons of repute, who know what it takes to run the administration.
“Just as you know, the Civil Service is the engine room of government and if the engine is faulty, the whole system cannot function well. So you must support the engine to keep it well lubricated. So that its operation can be effective and efficient.
“Therefore, we have to upscale our skills periodically and that is why we are investing heavily this year in the development of our personnel”.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that in order to ensure that the trainings giving to staff add value to the system, the Administration will prioritize partnership with some established Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations, such as Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Centre for Management Development (CMD), Public Service Institute of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), among others.
While speaking on the proposed ICAN International Convention Centre in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary said that having such Centre in the nation’s capital city has the capacity to boost the tourism potentials of the Territory and the country at large, besides galvanizing other major developments to the country.
He, however, assured the President that the FCT Administration and the Institute will continue to deepen its relationship for mutual benefit of both organizations.
Earlier, the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mrs. Comfort Eyitayo said the essence of the visit was to introduce herself as the new President of the Institute and also to pledge the Institute’s commitment to work closely with the FCT Administration for the symbiotic benefit of both organizations.
Eyitayo further used the opportunity to thank the Permanent Secretary for working with the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu to ensure prudent management of the Administration’s resources.
The ICAN President further reminded the Permanent Secretary of the earlier request of the Institute to be allocated thirty hectares of land in Abuja for the purpose of building the Institute International Convention Centre.
Ahead of Eid Kabir, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a warning to livestock traders selling along major traffic corridors in the nation’s capital , adding that violators will be prosecuted.
The warning was made by Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, while leading a team on a raid of an illegal ram market near Dutse Alhaji on Friday.
He stated that the administration would go to court to seek forfeiture orders against offenders.
Attah, who pointed out that the Administration had previously sacked the market, warned that rams discovered in illegal mark-ups would be killed.
While speaking to news men shortly after the raid Attah explained that , “We want to get the ram selling very organised but we found out that people appear not to be willing to sell rams in a organised manner. We have given them points where they can sell rams so that those who want to buy will do so and sacrifice to Allah in line with the teachings of Islam, but to our utmost shock, But persons just want to do what they like and they went to Dutse Alhaji, around the Public Service institute to create a ram market which we had sacked in 2019.
“What we did today, we saw that the rams came and we rushed there but before we got there they had evacuated the rams and ran away. We want to insist that everyone who wants to sell rams in this city must do that in only designated areas. We have the Dei-Dei ram market, the Kugbo ram market and all the abattoirs in Abuja which also have their ram markets attached and some few designated selling points in the city center.”
He also warned that, “We will be confiscating rams that people bring and sell on unapproved areas and we will be taking them to court, praying the judges to grant us forfeiture order and when we get these orders we give all the rams we seized to the orphanages and less privilege people to use for their Sallah celebrations.”
However , the Head of Monitoring and Inspection, AEPB, Mr. Kaka Bello, while reacting to the sudden reappearance of ram sellers in the area, said the Administration will re-enforce the evacuation order on the illegal market.
Recounting the earlier evacuation order, Kaka said, “If you remember some years back there was an illegal market there which we just received information that the ram market is back. Having removed the market before now and warned the ram sellers not to comeback there but unfortunately we received an information that they have commenced sales of ram there and that is why we are here and then make sure that we remove them and prosecute them but when we got there they have already left, but we will keep on monitoring, to make sure they don’t come back and if they do we will not hesitate to confiscate the rams and the owners and then charge them to court.”
He asked the livestock sellers to move to the designated markets, warning that the FCTA will not condone situations where people take advantage of festive periods to litter the streets and road corridors with livestock, as “its unhealthy and we will not allow that.”
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken a variety of precautions to prevent Cholera from spreading and to provide the best possible care to those who have become ill.
To confirm the prevalence of Cholera, the FCT is conducting ongoing monitoring on communities with suspected cases in all of the villages in the six Area councils.
This was stated in a statement signed by Malam Abubakar Sani, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and made accessible to journalists in Abuja.
The statement reads in parts ; “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken a number of steps to prevent the spread of Cholera and to offer the best possible care to individuals who have been infected.
“Some of the measures already taken from early May 2021 when we started having the diarrheal disease in the FCT include: Formation of Cholera Emergency Operation Centres and appointment of an Incidence Manager and other relevant medical personnel along with Stakeholders from the FCT Water Board, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Rural Water and Sanitation Agency [RUWASA) etc, who are also in the team; Prepositioning of Drugs and Consumables for the free treatment of all identified cases in both Secondary and Primary Care Facilities of the FCT; Provision of free portable water through water tankers from the FCT Water Board to all affected communities; Training and Sensitization of Health Care Providers in both Secondary and Primary Healthcare facilities including some private ones.
He continued ; “Community Sensitization on causes and means of treating and prevention of Cholera. All communities that have outbreak are being visited and monitored by relevant medical personnel and other stakeholders; Sensitization of the General Public through the media on all issues concerning the Cholera Outbreak and preventive measures; and High level engagement of all the Six [6] Area Councils Chairmen, Religious and Traditional Leaders in the Six [6] Area Councils.
“As at 8th July, 2021, the FCT has recorded Five hundred and fourteen (514) suspected cases. Out of this number, Eight [8] laboratory investigations were confirmed to be Cholera.
“The FCT Administration is also working very closely with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency on all the important interventions to end the scourge of the disease in the Territory”, the statement further stated.
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), a former military Head of State, warned against frequent defections by politicians, saying they are producing bloodshed and crises that are overheating the country.
Abdulsalami advised against frequent defections by politicians from one political party to another during the launch of the Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative by the 36 state governors on Tuesday in Abuja.
He spoke against the backdrop of political realignment among politicians in the run-up to the 2023 general election, which has seen several of them, particularly governors and legislators, switch parties.
No fewer than three governors have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since last November when Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, left the opposition party.
Others that have defected are Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle.
Also, at the launch of the initiative, the British High Commission in Nigeria, warned that the crisis facing Nigeria, if not quickly resolved, could destabilise the democratic process and the 2023 general election.
It also called for urgent reforms in the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, explaining that the use of the army and the police cannot resolve the security challenges facing Nigeria.
It said the way forward is reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and access to justice.
Abdulsalami, represented by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, warned politicians against the frequent change of parties as it could destabilise the country.
According to him; “These acts of defections cause violence and overheat the polity because of a simple act of one politician. These decisions spur violence and crisis.”
He also called for more cooperation among the security agencies in tackling crimes and criminalities.
He queried the deradicalisation of repentant insurgents, saying that the federal government should make open the content of deradicalisation that is given to them.
In his speech, the Development Director, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Chris Pycroft, warned that Nigeria faces significant security challenges that could endanger the 2023 general election.
He said: “There is an active insurgency in the North-east; farmer-herder conflicts are extending across the country; resource conflicts in the Delta; tension in the South-east; and banditry in the North-west. The rise in conflict risks destabilising Nigeria’s democracy in the run-up to 2023 elections.
“Conflict destroys lives, destroys livelihoods, destroys hope and ambition for the future. Conflict represents an existential threat to Nigeria’s unity and its development.”
The envoy called for reforms in the police and the army, saying: “The police and army are in urgent need of reform but the solution to Nigeria’s instability does not lie in simply strengthening the police and army but rather in building an effective social contract, building federal, state, local and community-level infrastructure to manage conflict; and in giving young people jobs and opportunities so that they have a stake in a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria.”
He added: “The proliferation of small arms and weapons, and the weaponisation of social media are drivers of conflict and instability. But with the right commitment, dedications and support-there are solutions.”
Pycroft stated that the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recognises the important role the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) plays in setting the peace and security agenda, building state-level, and community-level structures and institutions to reduce violence and to respond to conflict and insecurity across Nigeria.
A verified case of SARS-CoV-2 Delta, also known as lineage B.1.617.2, has been discovered by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Following a normal travel test required of all overseas passengers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, the variation was discovered in a traveler to Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Yahya Disu, Head of Communications, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, which was made available to journalists on Thursday in Abuja. The statement stated that, “The Delta variant is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility.
The statement reads in parts; “The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries. The variant has also been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain in circulation. There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics.
“As part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, NCDC has been working with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), and other laboratories within the national network, to carry out genomic sequencing. This is to enable the detection of variants of concern, and initiate response activities.
“All data on variants from Nigeria have been published on GISAID, a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data. Given the global risk of spread of the Delta variant, positive samples from international travelers to Nigeria are sequenced regularly.”
Continued; “The Government of Nigeria through the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has initiated several measures to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. This includes the introduction of travel restrictions from countries where there is a surge in cases associated with widespread prevalence of variants of concern. The national travel protocol which includes compulsory seven-day self-isolation and repeat test on the seventh day after arrival, are in place to reduce the risk of spread of the virus.
“It is very important that this is strictly adhered to, to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria. Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and following its detection in Nigeria, NCDC urges all Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to public health and social measures in place. Proven public health and social measures such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and proper use of face masks, prevent infections and save lives. The COVID- 19 vaccine is safe and effective and offers protection against the disease.
“Additionally, states are urged to ensure sample collection and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public. Public settings such as schools with accommodation facilities, workplaces and camps should utilise the approved Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for rapid testing of their population.”
The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, “Although we have seen a low number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria in the last eight weeks, it is incredibly important that we do not forget to be careful. The surge in cases in countries across the world and Africa is an important reminder of the risk we face. Please protect yourselves and the people you love by adhering to the known public health and social measures, getting vaccinated if you are eligible and getting tested if you have symptoms”.
The recommended control measures to limit the spread of the Delta variant continue to be testing, following the existing public health guidance and abiding by the current travel and public restrictions.
Nigeria and the African area were proclaimed WPV-free in 2020 after a rigorous verification and certification process by the African Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) that covered three years of no WPV discovery.
According to DR. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), there has never been a case of WPV being isolated anywhere in the country.
He made this known in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, saying, Nigeria and the African area were declared WPV-free on August 25, 2020, ensuring that the country’s polio-free status is not jeopardized.
The statement reads; “The NPHCDA’s attention has been attracted to stories in some sectors of the media alleging that a new polio variety has emerged in various states.This is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, no case of WPV has been reported anywhere in the country since the last case in 2016.
“What is being misconstrued for an outbreak of WPV is the detection, through our robust disease surveillance system of 22 cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis, spread across seven (7) States (Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara). These non-wild polio viruses originated as a result of normal changes in the reproduction of viruses. These viruses are not as virulent as WPV and are also being reported in other countries. Working with our donors and development partners, Nigeria has already acquired new tools and resources to ensure these viruses are contained.
“NPHCDA assures Nigerians that the Agency and partners will continue to conduct surveillance and vaccination campaigns in order to prevent and contain any possible importation of the Wild Polio Virus”.
The plight of about thirteen villages, for which Oba Adewale Adeniji, Oniraniken is said to have obtained a frivolous judgment over ownership, has resulted in a high level of insecurity in the community and surrounding villages, causing panic among residents who fear being attacked or kidnapped by hoodlums.
Despite a court judgment and ruling, Oba Adewale Adeniji, Oniraniken summoned armed bandits to the aforementioned land (over 4, 000 acres) in the hopes that they would secure the land for him.
The travail of about thirteen villages which Oba Adewale Adeniji, Oniraniken said to have secured a frivolous judgement over the ownership, has resulted to the high level of insecurity in the community and nearby villages causing pandemonium to the residents over fear of being attacked or kidnapped by the hoodlums.
The three suspects who are said to be have been working for Oba Adewale Adeniji, Oniranike of Iranike were arrested on the land belonging to Olumeru Adeyemi Sodiya Family in Oke Rala village, Shimawa area of Sagamu following the petition from the community residents to the Inspector General of Police over insecurity in the villages.
A police source hinted that , the force special squad received distress call from resident of Shimawa over kidnapping and banditary which made them swing to action from Abuja, during the raid, live ammunition and dangerous weapon was recovered from the gang of land grabber apprehended after others are at large.
The suspected hoodlums arrested are Afeez Sunday 41yrs old “m” of Ikorodu LGA, Surajudeem Isiaka 33yrs old “m” of Ikorodu, and one Muranikeji Ogunkeye 32yrs old “m” of Ikorodu LGA of Lagos state.
Other villages affected by the insecurity are Okerala Odofin, Okelara Apena Seriki village, Okerala Tarogun village, IpaVillage, Ososa Village, Simawa village respectively, leaving the residents in daily fear to perform their daily activities over fear of being kidnapped and killed by these men.
Meanwhile, Ogun State House of Assembly had summoned the Oniraniken of Iranike (Elewu Oku), Oba Adewale Adeniji, to appear before the lawmakers on January 23, 2021 to tender his documents proofing him as the genuine owner of the 4,000 Acres of land but he couldn’t provide any but paid for hoodlums to terrorize the entire villages causing fear to the dwellers.
Same hoodlums was said to have attacked so many residents leaving on Lukman Kareem with high degree of injury, his left eye was damaged by the gang, while several people were also injured and displaced.
The suspected land grabbers arrested today were whisked away to Abuja by the special force for questioning today after the palace of Oba Adewale Adeniji was searched but could not find him before they left for the force headquarter.
Tensions are rising as Deputy Inspector General, DIG Joseph O. Egbunike, and other top police officers face possible imprisonment for allegedly disobeying an order of the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N Buba, directing the first to third respondents, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police Joseph O. Egbunike, and other top police officers, to report to the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division
Barr. Valentine Umeha, speaking on behalf of the applicants, Akpa Francis, Obinna Mamah, and Joshua Ogbonna, said that the applicants, Akpa Francis, Obinna Mamah, and Joshua Ogbonna, through their team of lawyers, stormed the court seeking to enforce their fundamental rights to life, liberty and dignity via the notice of application filed on June 30, 2021 in Suit No. FHC/EN/CS/96/2021.
“In line with Order IV of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009, the applicants also filed a motion exparte praying for bail and interim order directing the Police to stay all actions relating to and/or connected with the complaints of the applicants.
“Following the grant of the motion exparte, the bailiff of the court armed with the duly drawn order and other originating processes, proceeded to FCID Enugu Annex office of the first to third respondents, being the address endorsed for service of the processes on the said respondents,” he said.
He, however, explained that after placing calls on the D.I.G Joseph O. Egbunike, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCID Annex Enugu, Mr. Kasumu refused to accept service of the court order and accompanying processes.
“The bailiff of court in adherence to the rules of service of court processes, dropped the court order and the processes in the office of the police officer but he instructed his men to lock the bailiff and the applicants’ lawyers in the police premises insisting that the bailiff and the lawyers can only be allowed to go if he takes back the court order together with other processes.
“Being constrained and in grave danger, the helpless bailiff picked up the processes and left with the applicants lawyers who acted as pointer to the bailiff.
“Notwithstanding the above, the bailiff proceeded to Abuja and on July 2, 2021, he effected personal service of the order of court and the originating processes on the above named police officers who are the first to third respondents in the suit pending in court,” he said.
It was gathered that despite the service of the court order directing the Police to release the applicants having been granted bail, the D.I.G Joseph O. Egbunike in flagrant disobedience of the order of court has refused to release the applicants on bail nor stay further action on the matter.
Upon reporting to the court the refusal of the D.I.G Joseph O. Egbunike to release the applicants as directed, the court on July 7, 2021, ordered the officer incharge of Police Legal Department State CID Enugu to appear before it to explain why the Police will disobey the order.
Also, the applicants through their lawyers have initiated committal proceedings against D.I.G Joseph O. Egbunike, IGP and Thomas Amonke by filing in court Form 48 which has been served on the officers.
Meanwhile, the applicants’ rights were violated as a result of clandestine measures by persons at the top of Enugu State’s political hierarchy, through their surrogates, to shut down the Enugu Political Arena WhatsApp Platform.
The crime committed by these innocent citizens (Applicants) was their refusal to succumb to the aforesaid shenanigans and covert schemes to prevent the people of Enugu from airing their views on politics, governance, and democratic dividends in the state.
It will be remembered that reports of a police invitation to the administrator of the Enugu Political Arena WhatsApp Platform, Comrade Francis Akpa, and other participants surfaced some time ago.
Tensions rise as DIG J, the Deputy Inspector General, takes office.
The people of Enugu were anxious to know the reason for the invitation and on whose behest the invitation was orchestrated.
Shortly after the news, one of the participants Joshua Ogbonna was arrested by Police officers from Anti Kidnapping Squad.
He was granted bail after being detained for about two days.
The admin of the platform in strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for constituted authority, honoured an invitation from the Police.
The admin was confronted with a petition written by one Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, alleging character assassination among others.
The principal suspects named in the petition were Chief Damian Odo and Comrade Obinna Mamah.
After writing his statement, the Admin was released on bail same day.
Comrade Obinna Mamah who is one of the participants in the platform, also presented himself to Police Officers at Anti kidnapping Squad for interrogation based on Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai’s allegations.
Comrade Obinna Mamah made statement, interviewed the Commissioner of Police who thereafter directed that he should be released on bail to a reliable surety. The directive was adhered to.
Two days later, Mr. Joshua Ogbonna, Francis Akpa (Admin), Obinna Mamah, Ifeanyi Ossai, Commander Anti kidnapping Squad and his men and the lawyers for the parties, stormed the Enugu CP’s office for interview.
Shockingly, the same Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai who orchestrated the arrest of the aforementioned persons, chose the forum of his choice for the investigation, suddenly wrote to the Inspector General of Police and secured the transfer of the same case to Force CID Abuja,”
The applicants together with their lawyers were said to have been confronted with the petition to the IGP and the team of Police Officers from Abuja who were in the CP’S office whisked the case file and the suspects to Abuja.
It took the uncompromised stance of the CP who insisted that due process be followed, for the applicants to be saved from being whisked off to Abuja that night.
The applicants presented themselves for investigation, appeared whenever invited throughout the period of investigation, yet Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai and his cohorts were not satisfied, apparently because the CP refused their invitation to incarcerate the above innocent citizens for no just cause.
At the instance of Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the petition was transferred to Abuja and assigned to D.I.G Joseph Egbunike who obviously was ready to carry out the wishes of his pay masters. on June 16, 2021, Comrade Obinna Mama, Comrade Francis Akpa and Joshua Ogbonna (Applicants) in obedience to the invitation of the DIG went to FCIID Abuja.
In an ordinary bailable offence, and considering the fact that the applicants were already on police bail at Enugu and that they obediently came to answer the D.I.G’s invitation, he clamped them in detention despite providing a Level 15 civil servant in the Federal Service who is with every documents required by the police and ready to stand for the applicants.
Barrister Umeha lamented that the applicants have been in detention since June 16, 2021 till date.
Our correspondent gathered that millions of tax payers money were alleged to have been wasted in sponsoring the illegal detention of the applicants, all aimed at stopping the people of Enugu from speaking out.
Dr. Peter Simon Maigari, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has vowed to rid Abuja of the seemingly constant menace of kidnapping and vandalism.
Maigari said he had met with the heads of several security services, including the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), and the Armed Forces, to discuss how to effectively tackle the threat, particularly in the Territory’s most notorious areas.
The remark was made by the New Commandant of the NSCDC in the FCT yesterday, while answering questions from journalists during an official familiarisation visit to the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, in his office, in Area 11, Garki-Abuja.
According to him : “Vandals know that FCT is no longer a safe haven for them. And I want to assure the residents of the FCT that they will sleep with their two eyes closed.
“I’m coming from Kogi state, and if you know the history of Kogi, it’s a state that is bounded by nine border states including the FCT. You know what Kogi state used to be then, before I went there in 2019 as the Commandant.
“Then, the issue of kidnapping was so rampant, but when we got there, with collaboration with other sister security agencies, we were able to stem out the issue of kidnapping.
“And I can assure you that such will happen here (FCT). I’m already talking with other colleagues; Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Service (SSS) and the Armed forces to see how we will rid the FCT of the menace.
“And I want to assure that my predecessor has laid a very solid foundation, and I’m going to be on it, as I’m coming with experience from several places I have been to.”
Maigari, who hails from Kaduna State, replaced Commandant Mathias Ohieme as the head of FCT Command of the NSCDC, had commanded the corps in Bauchi state, Kwara state and Kogi state, respectively.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development is working to ensure that revenue accruals from the mining sector are properly harnessed into the Federation Account for the development and benefit of Nigeria as it seeks to achieve its goals, in order to meet its statutory and Presidential mandate of increasing the mining sector’s contribution to GDP from 0.6 percent to 5% by 2025.
On Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, stated this when he hosted Mr. Cui Jianchun, the People’s Republic of China’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
This was contained in a statement by the Head (Press & Public Relations Unit), Tine-Iulun M. A which a copy was sent to newsmen in Abuja statement that, “In its continued efforts to ensure the delivery of its statutory and Presidential mandate to grow the mining sector contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from 0.6% to 5% by year 2025, the Ministry is working at ensuring that revenue accruals from the mining sector is properly harnessed into the Federation Account for the development and benefit of Nigeria as it seeks to deepen collaboration with China to develop the sector.”
Arc. Adegbite stated that Nigeria has always had a positive relationship with China and that Chinese mining investment would be extremely beneficial to both countries.
In addition, while reiterating the importance of committed Chinese investors in the mining sector, Minister of State Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah requested that a Mineral Desk be established at the Chinese Embassy to facilitate the resolution of issues arising from Chinese operators in the Nigerian mining sector.
He did, however, admit that the Chinese are the country’s largest mining investors.
Many Chinese citizens have been found indulging in illicit mining activities, according to the report, which claims that the majority of them are illegal miners.
He called for synergy in the area of combating illegal mining in Nigeria as well as solicited for support in addressing this challenge to boost bilateral relations between the two countries.
Earlier , the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Cui Jianchun, who revealed he had been in Nigeria for 100 days, stated that it was time to leverage on the good relations China has enjoyed with Nigeria for 50 years, and deepen the partnership as there are huge potentials for Chinese investors and government in Nigeria.
Mr. Cui Jianchun expressed China’s willingness to work with Nigeria for the benefit of both countries.
