FG to employ youth as firefighters to curb unemployment, says Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

FG to employ youth as firefighters to curb unemployment, says Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Federal government has said that it will employ more Nigerian youth as firefighters to reduce unemployment and boost the sector.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known during the launching of new fire fighting equipment which include 16 trucks and six vehicles at the Headquarters of the Federal Fire Service in Abuja, yesterday.

He explained that what has so far been delaying the employment is the enactment of new laws to modernize firefighting in Nigeria.

“Your strength lies in the decline of fire outbreaks and not the number of fires you fought within a period.

“Extinguishing fires, saving lives and property, rescuing people during accidents and protecting people on the event of other emergencies remained part of your responsibilities.

“Federal Fire and Rescue Service will be expected to collect information across Nigeria and also take care of the health and safety of your personnel.

“I need to have the full range of foreseeable fires, the areas and what we have to combat them. It is very important that this becomes your next line of action. As government agencies, we put in more efforts in solving problems rather than planning to prevent them.

He noted that when the laws are ready, the number of firefighters needed would be alighted and the need for fire fighters in every public infrastructure in the country would be stipulated, and subsequently allow for more hands to be employed.

Tunji-Ojo said the number of firefighters in a country shows the level of its development, hence Nigeria cannot be among the top economies of the world if it has a small population of firefighters.

There is a direct correlation between sophistication, industrialization and fire service because the more you grow as an economy, the more you need to expand the coast of your fire service. Fire service is directly related to development in any nation.

Nigeria with just over 6,000 federal firefighters is among the least number of employed firefighters in the world, he said .

Making comparison, Dr. Tunji-Ojo pointed that New York with 255 fire houses, Los Angeles with 160 fire stations give the picture of what fire fighter and rescue operation should be, noting that US has over a million fire fighters both employed and volunteers.

He said the bill before the National Assembly if assented would change the narratives of fire fighting in the country.

“FFS is a sleeping giant. Your response should not only be combating fire but even forecasting danger. You must be proactive,” he added that: “I don’t want your performance to be valued around the buildings or infrastructure you prevented from burning down, but rather preventive mechanism to rescue and prevent hazards.”

“For us as people, we cannot continue to pay lip service, non-challant attitude to the issue to fire. As an individual, I believe that the FFS should be the major employer of labour in Nigeria. All we need to do is put on our thinking caps. It is time for the FFS to rise up to her responsibility which is not just about combating fire.

“It has to do with forecasting dangers. We have to migrate from the era of corrective activities to the era of being proactive which will lead us to preventive measures that can save us millions of Naira.

“The FFS must work very closely with NSCDC for security cover. I understand the issues that our FFS men are attacked when they go out on their legitimate duties but with the NSCDC providing such cover, such attacks will be reduced,” he said.

Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Engineer Jaji Abdulganiyu said the fire statistics in the first and second quarter of 2023 was a testimony of a truly re- engineered Service, noting that records at the Data Repository Centre puts fire call for the period at 1,096, lives saved -111 successful rescues at 91 and total property saved at over N300

billion.

He assured that with the launching of state-of-the-art firefighting trucks and Ford Rapid Response Vehicles (RRV), incredible achievements are going to be made.

President Tinubu Announces New Leadership in Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Sectors.

President Tinubu Announces New Leadership in Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Sectors.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new and returning Chief Executives to fresh terms in office across multiple agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy:

(1) EVC / CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — Aminu Maida

(2) MD / CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) — Nkechi Egerton-Idehen

(3) DG / CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) — Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

(4) National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — Dr. Vincent Olatunji

(5) Postmaster General / CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) — Tola Odeyemi

Furthermore, in line with President Bola Tinubu's determination to maximally leverage on Nigeria's proven technological and digital economic prowess to reposition the nation's economy toward greater financial inclusion, the President has approved the appointment of a new Special Adviser to the President.

Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy — Idris Alubankudi

By this directive of the President, the above-mentioned appointments take immediate effect.

Oyebanji Names Oke-Olutola New Diretor General EKDIPA.

Oyebanji Names Oke-Olutola New Diretor General EKDIPA.

 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of Mrs Lolade Oke-Olutola as the new Director-General of the State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA).

Oke-Olutola, whose appointment is with immediate effect, takes over from Mr Ayokunnumi Aribidara, who has being redeployed to the Governor’s Office as Special Advisor on Policy Coordination.

Oke-Olutola, an accomplished financial expert with over 15 years cognate experience spanning various sectors has extensive experience in market dynamics, statutory regulations and Public Private Partnership.

A product of University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and Metropolitan School of Business and Management, United Kingdom; she is also a Certified Treasury Manager from the New York Institute of Finance, New York, USA.

Until recently, Oke-Olutola served as the Director General, Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA), where she effectively managed the state’s portfolio and drove its PPP initiatives.

INEC registers 5.4 million for Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa governorship polls.

INEC registers 5.4 million for Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa governorship polls.

About 5,409,438 registered voters are expected to vote in the November 11   elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday.

The commission is however yet to release the number of permanent voters’ cards collected in the three states ahead of the elections.

The commission also announced that it will conduct a mock accreditation  in the three states on  October 14 to test run its facilities.

A statement  by the National Commissioner in Charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, also announced that it will present a register of voters to the political parties in the three states on  October 12 in line with the provisions of the law.

The statement reads: “The Commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday 10th October 2023 and, among other issues, reviewed preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

Presentation of Voters Register NGO to INEC, security agents: be neutral

“For the forthcoming elections, there are 1,056 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State; 2,419,922 in Imo State; and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the three States.

“As provided in the timetable and schedule of activities, soft copies of the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties participating in the elections.

“For emphasis, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State and all the 18 parties in Kogi State.

“In furtherance of our commitment to deepen the deployment of technology for voter accreditation and result management, the Commission has finalised preparations for mock accreditation of voters in the three states to test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

Israeli-Hamas conflict: NCPC suspends planned pilgrimage.

Israeli-Hamas conflict: NCPC suspends planned pilgrimage.

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has decided to suspend all pilgrimages to Israel and Jordan due to the ongoing crisis in the nation.

The announcement was conveyed through a statement signed by Abu Okpanachi, the Head of Operations of the NCPC, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Yakubu Pam.

Initially, the Commission had planned to airlift consuls and self-sponsored intending pilgrims to Jordan, where they would spend four days before moving to Israel.

 

However, given the current situation, the Commission has assured the pilgrims that the pilgrimage will resume once the situation in Israel improves.

The Commission expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the postponement.

The statement reads as follows: “I am directed to inform you that our planned pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan has been postponed due to the prevailing crisis situation in southern Israel.

“The Executive Secretary deeply regrets every inconvenience this will cause you and prays that the good Lord will give peace in our hearts, knowing that all things work together for good for us who love God.

“Kindly be assured that as soon as the situation improves, the Commission will commence the pilgrimage exercise. May the good Lord honour you greatly for your understanding.”

Meanwhile, the NCPC Executive Secretary, Yakubu Pam, has congratulated the fifth batch of pilgrims on their successful pilgrimage exercise in Israel.

The pilgrims, who were mostly the first batch of Lagos contingents, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, at exactly 12:50 am local time today, October 10, 2023, after leaving the country on the 30th of September for the 2023 Easter pilgrimage completion exercise.

The NCPC boss expressed excitement for their safe arrival while commending their good conduct throughout the exercise.

“I am very excited to know that our fifth batch of pilgrims returned safely to the country, sound and complete,” he said.

He further commended them for their calm disposition, patience, comportment, and resilience throughout their eight nights and nine days of pilgrimage in the Holy Land, while reiterating that the safety of the Nigerian pilgrims would continue to be the top priority of his commission.

Federal Government begins insuring 83m poor, vulnerable Nigerians.

Federal Government begins insuring 83m poor, vulnerable Nigerians.

The Federal Government has launched the operational guidelines for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

This is the precursor to the full implementation of its National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022 and the commencement of the enrolment of 83 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians into its health insurance.

The launch of the operational guidelines became critical to the implementation of the NHIA Act 2022, making health insurance mandatory in Nigeria.

The NHIA operational guidelines provide an enabling platform for the promotion, integration, and regulation of health insurance in the country.

The NHIA Act 2022, which replaced the 2004 law, recognises the decentralised state of health insurance in Nigeria, provides for the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF), and empowers the NHIA to promote, regulate, and integrate health insurance schemes across the country.

Unveiling the operational guidelines yesterday in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the country had made some progress in health insurance since the inauguration of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) before its transformation to NHIA with a national coverage of between eight and nine per cent of the population.

The minister said this is not where the country intended to be.

He regretted that the high rate of out-of-pocket spending by families to access healthcare was responsible for poor coverage, an issue the minister said the government, in collaboration with critical health sector partners, was determined to address.

Pate said the establishment of the NHIA and the launch of the operational guidelines pointed to the seriousness the government attached to them.

The minister said the target of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to have at least 50 million Nigerians enrolled in a few years.

He said: “These guidelines are meant to provide direction… We will work in a concerted way to expand the affordability of healthcare for the population in our country, especially the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.

“These guidelines have been developed in a consultative manner with all actors – public, private sectors, civil society – and with engagement of state governments.

“So, it’s Nigeria coming together to say that people should not be pushed into poverty because of the cost of ill-health.

“And so, as we implemented on the basis of these guidelines, we should see more Nigerians are covered over time to meet the goals that have been set by Mr. President for his administration. We have over seven of the Global Health Insurance Programme.

“We have less than 10 per cent now. So, the President’s aspiration is transformative so that we leapfrog. We expect faster progress and higher rates of increase in coverage over the next few years. Within the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), there is a portion of it that is allocated to the vulnerable groups. We will make sure it gets to them.”

Credit:The Nation Newspaper.

Investors, rating agencies positive about Nigeria, says Edun.

Investors, rating agencies positive about Nigeria, says  Edun.

Development finance institutions, investors and rating agencies are excited with the handling of the economy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said yesterday.

He broke the news to reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

The minister had earlier met with officials of SCB Rating Advisor, Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s to intimate them of the government’s economic programmes.

Speaking to the outcome of the meetings, Edun said the administration was taking necessary steps to reduce poverty and improve the lives of all Nigerians, and that the tough decisions being made by the president are being well-received.

He stated that the Nigerian delegation’s presence at the World Bank/IMF meetings, where they were able to gauge the opinions of various stakeholders, including development finance institutions, private bankers, investors, analysts, and rating agencies shows that these groups are happy with the government’s decisions.

Edun said: “Our wish is to grow the Nigerian economy to reduce poverty, make life better for all Nigerians, which is the determination of President Tinubu, and indeed his whole administration. I think we are laying the groundwork for achieving that.

“He’s making the tough decisions and the reception is very positive. We’re here at the World Bank/IMF meetings and so we get a sense of what the whole world thinks, because here you have the development finance institutions, but also you have the private bankers, you have the investors, you have the analysts, you have the rating agencies, and the reaction from one and all so far is very positive.”

The minister confirmed that Nigeria has been elected the next chair of the African Caucus and Governors’ meeting for next year.

“What this means”, Edun stated, “is that Nigeria has the leadership of the African Governors Forum within the World Bank group.

“It is Nigeria that will help to set the agenda and push the case, for instance, for a third member of the Board of governors from sub-Saharan Africa.

“There are two from Africa currently, and we think the third one should come from sub-Saharan Africa, so that we have a bigger voice in the governance. We have more representation in the board of the World Bank group than the IMF’.

On debt forgiveness, Edun argued that the real issue is not the debt itself or forgiving it, but rather the perception and narrative surrounding Nigeria.

According to him, there is a positive and optimistic attitude towards Nigeria, particularly from investors.

The minister said: “Nigeria is seen as having a strong economy, a large population, and abundant resources. After China and India, Nigeria is considered to be one of the most attractive investment destinations. However, in order for Nigeria to fully benefit from this interest, it needs to be prepared to attract and accept investment”.

“This would involve focusing on sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, industry, manufacturing, and import substitution.

“Ultimately, both foreign direct investment and existing investors have an interest in contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.” 

Credit:The Nation Newspaper.