BREAKING NEWS
- JULIUS BERGER WINS MOST RELIABLE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AWARD
- NEPZA trains 40 personnel for security of special economic zones
- Chaos in Edo over PDP primaries
- Press Release Group urges NASS, MDAs, others to partner FG in protecting FDI
- Journalist Blacklisted 38 years under Buhari let off the Hook.
- FORUM OF APC ORGANIZING SECRETARIES EULOGIZES ABDULAHI ADAMU’S LEADERSHIP
- BREAKING NEWS: Ex-President Jonathan appointed to board of European Council on Africa and Middle East CONGRATULATIONS YOUR EXCELLENCY Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been appointed to the international advisory board of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM Council). By this appointment, Dr. Jonathan becomes the first sub-Saharan African leader to serve on the board of the ECAM Council, a non-profit organisation established with the purpose of promoting and developing relations between the countries of Europe, Africa and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, with Italy playing a leading role. Other members of the Advisory board are Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Secretary General GCC Gulf Cooperation Council and Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC). A letter from ECAM Council to the Office of Dr. Jonathan informing him of the appointment stated: “For your information, the Chairman of ECAM Council Dr. Kamel Ghribi is well acquainted with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. We are setting up an international advisory board of ECAM Council and Dr. Ghribi would be delighted to welcome him on board.” It noted that the Council was “founded with the purpose of developing realistic, effective and long-lasting solutions for more sustainable healthcare systems, with a special focus on the common issues affecting the Southern hemisphere of the globe.” Dr. Jonathan will be attending this year’s ECAM Council’s high-level advisory board meeting holding in Italy on 30th May. Every year in Italy, ECAM Council hosts a summit, in cooperation with The European House – Ambrosetti. It brings together a selected group of heads of state, government ministers and heads of multi-lateral agencies and focuses on long-term investment and international partnerships in healthcare and infrastructure, as well as the contribution of the private sector in creating strategic hubs in the African continent. Ikechukwu Eze Special Adviser to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
- JULIUS BERGER AFP WINS DOUBLE AWARDS FOR MOST POPULAR BRAND AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE AT LAGOS ARCHITECTS FORUM …Governor Sanwoolu, His Imperial Majesty Ooni of Ife, lauds AFP’s matchless quality Abuja Furniture Product, AFP, the furniture and furnishing arm of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc weekend won the ‘Recognition for Corinthian Partnership Award’ of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State Chapter. AFP also won the ‘Company with Most Popular Product Award’ at the Lagos Architects Forum 13.0, which held inside the Expo Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. Organised by the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Architects, the Lagos Architects Forum described the Julius Berger AFP as unique and supportive of the architectural profession even as the Chapter Chairman, Arch. David Majekodunmi described AFP’s products on display at the accompanying exhibition as, “unique, superb and uniquely lovely.” Representative of the Governor of Lagos State at the event and Special Adviser to the state Chief Executive on Infrastructure and engineering services, Engr Mrs Aramide Adeyoye who also won an award of Excellence, praised the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Architects for “a well organised Forum and Exhibition.” Mrs Aramide, on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu further said, “Nigerians appreciate the contributions of architects to nation-building. Here in Lagos we always count on your support in our fight against building collapse and solid infrastructural development across the state.” The Lagos Governor also assured that the government was committed to implementing the state’s original development plan. The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, a builder himself, who graciously attended the event, thumbed up and commended products on display at the AFP exhibition pavilion saying that, “they are good and beautiful.” In his speech at the event, the Ooni lauded the role of architects in the design and developments of systems and communities. Describing architects as “the real nation builders,” the Ooni said “globally, the indispensable roles of architects cannot be overemphasised as they design, prepare plans and even superintend all buildings and structures to ensure conformity with standard as well as safety.” The Ooni of Ife charged Nigerian architects and other professionals in the nation’s building industry to push towards implementing the country’s National Building Code. Nigeria’s National Building Code is a set of minimum standards on building pre-design, designs, construction and post-construction stages with a view to ensuring quality, safety and proficiency in the building industry. Referring to the frequent building collapse incidents in Lagos the Ooni said, “…building collapse is a major problem.” To underscore how seriously he viewed the issue, the Monarch declared, “I am ready to join the drive to achieve the implementation of the building code and ethics in Nigeria.” The Sales Manager, AFP, Mr Uche Uzoewulu received the Award plaque on behalf of the company as the Head, Media Relations, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Prince Moses Duku watched. Since 2009, the Lagos Architects Forum has become the annual flagship event for Architects who live and work in Lagos, with active participation of Construction Industry Professionals and Service Providers. The event is traditionally hosted at the Jasmine and Zinnia Halls, Expo Centre of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event is an increasingly popular International Conference, which provides all participants and partners excellent opportunities to meet with the various key players and stakeholders in the Construction Industry. During LAF 13.0, participants had several opportunities to interact and establish bi-lateral ties with affiliated companies, service providers, manufacturers, corporate bodies, prospective end-users, and other relevant stakeholders. The Lagos Architects Forum 2022 provided a number of unique opportunities for corporate bodies and organizations to promote their products and services that relate to the Construction Industry. These include product launches, display of products and services, exhibitions of architects’ works, workshops, seminars, advertisement, partnership opportunities, post conference site tours, etc. In the words of the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the NIA, Arch. David Majekodunmi, ‘….It remains an unbeatable investment of time and resources.’ 1. cid:image010.jpg@01D8647F.25FE32F0 R-L: The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor and Representative of the Governor, Engr. Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, and the Sales Manager of Julius Berger AFP, Uchenna Uzoewulu at the AFP Pavilion at the Lagos Architects Forum 13.0 at Eko Hotel recently
- ABUMET UPSCALES TO HIGHER QUALITY STANDARDS, RECEIVES ISO 9001Julius Berger Plc Group !”#$%& !”$’(’!)!!! *’ ’ % & ’+,-’’ *’ ’ .,-/ $ ’ 0 ’ ’ % 1./0’#$’’ 0%& !”’’02*’’%$#’++,-%34+,*’’ *%54“the ISO 9001: 2015 is at the heightof management systems because it puts in place thesuperstructure for every management system, and thiscerti!cation is for Abumet a clear statement that it has
- DSS, Kanu, IPOB’s And The Issues At Stake BY VICTOR BUORO The rising insecurity and criminality in Nigeria have continued to leave a sour taste in the mouth of Nigerians across the board, ethnic and religious divide notwithstanding. In the midst of these near-crippling challenges, the nation’s security agencies and apparatus have expectedly not been spared scathing criticisms for their actions or inactions in addressing the worrying situation of terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping among other forms of criminality Besides the Nigerian military and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the State Security Services (SSS), also referred to as the Department of State Services (DSS) seems to be the most criticised and misunderstood in the public eye. This development is unfortunately so given the seemingly-intractable security situation in the country. With some individuals and even media outlets not relenting in solely blaming the intelligence services for what they described as “intelligence failure”, it is difficult to distance the continuous public odium suffered by the DSS from its unwavering resolve to deliver on the statutory responsibilities of counter-intelligence, internal security, counter-terrorism, surveillance and the investigation of other types of serious crimes against the state. Over the years, there is no denying the fact that the SSS has carried out dutifully its mission of protecting and defending the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats; upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of Nigeria, as well as providing leadership and criminal justice services to both federal and state law-enforcement organs. Though many critics may not be bold to admit that fact, it is the DSS’ commitment to mandate delivery and constant adaptation to various roles due to evolving security threats in the country, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency that clearly puts the organization in the eye of the storm always. Indeed, as the foremost domestic intelligence agency, saddled with the statutory responsibilities of detecting and preventing threats and crimes against the Nation’s internal security, the DSS has done a lot in this direction and clearly needs the encouragement and support of all Nigerians as part of their civic responsibilities in advancing national security and development objectives. Given the serious work being done by the nation’s secret Police, in conjunction with various stakeholders, to create and enhance security consciousness among the citizenry, it is quite worrisome that only intelligence failure gets pounded anytime there are casualties in the war against terrorism; banditry; kidnapping and other threats across the country. Without doubts, it is imperative that security education gets its deserved place in the scheme of things in order to engender robust collaboration between the DSS and the populace towards raising citizens’ awareness of the national security architecture. For all the good reasons, especially against the backdrop of threats’ complexity, such a partnership would not only enhance national security, but it would also deepen collaboration and uplift the morale of the personnel working very hard daily to ensure Nigerians operate in a peaceful and harmonious environment devoid of hostile agents and subversive elements. Here, the running battle between the DSS, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and their detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, readily comes to mind for scrutiny. Unfortunately, Mazi Kanu and IPOB, which remains a proscribed organization in the country by law, as well as their sympathizers, have not relented in wrongly accusing or misperceiving the role of the DSS in ensuring that individuals and groups are not allowed to disrupt and overheat the polity with their violence-prone, threatening, misleading and skewed narratives as well as messages that are clearly inimical to efforts at strengthening and maintaining national security. One cannot but wonder how the leader of a proscribed group that daily unleashes terror and mayhem on Nigerians with many innocent lives lost can truly be talking about and claiming human rights abuses. No matter the colouration by his legal team and supporters, Kanu cannot be exonerated as the mastermind of the current mayhem and dastardly display of criminality against the Nigerian State across the South-East geo-political zone in particular. The sustained deadly onslaughts by the outlawed organization can easily be traced to his threatening, abusive, misguided and uncouth utterances and declarations against the government and the Nigerian people. With many already exploiting and politicising the issue of insecurity in parts of the country for pecuniary and other selfish reasons, the Mazi Kanu-led IPOB has regrettably made lives across the South East region unbearable for many citizens, especially against the backdrop of its frequent threats and sit-at-home orders. And sadly, the so-called leader of the notorious group, whose actions and inactions in the first instance led to current situation of things, has remained aloof in seeking cheap popularity, with a body language that encourages his followers, supporters and secret admirers to engage in acts that create fear and cause divisions among citizens, while aiming to present the country as ungovernable. Though the appeals coming from various quarters for the government to grant pardon and release the detained IPOB Leader may be made in good faith, it is also important that the central figure be in a position to retrace his steps and rein in his followers on the path of peace because it would be wrong for the DSS and other security agencies to stand by and watch the outlaws continue with their reigns of terror on innocent Nigerians. That obviously will mean sidestepping the law which allows the Service to deal with those who may wish to test its resolve in ensuring internal security and national stability. No matter the accusations and antics being used to cajole Nigerians about the DSS and its patriotic activities, nothing will detract from the fact that the Service under the watchful eyes of its Director General, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, has done much to contain the destabilising acts by IPOB and its sponsors. And contrary to IPOB’s claims, Kanu, though kept in custody, is receiving proper treatment and care with no denial of his rights in the DSS facility. Going forward, it is imperative that political leaders and opinion moulders like the religious leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders should intervene and impress on their adherents and subjects to always be circumspect; shun inglorious activities; guard their utterances; and avoid inciting pronouncements capable of overheating the polity; and inflaming the fire of division and violence among Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable populations. However, the important demand on the Service is for its personnel to always remain civil in their operations while collaborating effectively with other sister agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that all law abiding citizens and residents pursue their legitimate businesses without hindrances and this has been achieved to an appreciable level. …Buoro is an Abuja based journalist