The Abuja Times 4
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, September 20, 2017
My duty is to compliment effort of my boss, says FCT Perm Sec
ÏÏÏPermanent Secretary, Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, has indicated his readiness to support his boss, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to achieve the aspirations of the founding fathers of Federal Capital Territory. Mr.Ohaa made the disclosure recently in Abuja during the monthly management meeting of Heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the FCT Administration. The Permanent Secretary implored directors and other senior management staff of the administration to key into the Change Agenda of the President which is hinged on zero-tolerance to corruption, excellent service delivery and improving the quality of lives of Nigerians from all walks of life. He said: “I’m sent here to support the Minister to drive to fruition Mr. President’s Mandate for this administration. As you are all aware the watchword of this present government is transparency and accountability and that is why all of us are here. “Therefore, we must prove to Mr. President that we have bought into his mandate. We will support him to succeed in his passion to bring a change to this country. We will support him so that when visitors come into city, they will have good impression about Nigerians. “I believe in you. I believe that
together we can support Mr. President and the Minister to usher in radical change into Nigeria. “I present myself before you, to work with you with sincerity of purpose. To make sure we do the right thing at every given time. To make sure we are prompt even when there are emergencies. This is because all of us are here to work for the good of our people and ourselves and also for the future of our children. Let’s work in synergy. Please, don’t let me down.” Ohaa further remarked that the Minister shares in totality the vision and ideals of Mr. President, to reposition Nigeria on the path of rectitude in order to be an example in the comity of nations. “The Minister is a man of integrity. A man who is highly contented and when the head is correct, the whole body must follow.” The FCT scribe maintained that he would stick to extant rules and regulations in the way and manner things are done in the Territory. Ohaa, who solicited the co-operation of the staff, promised to do his bit to improve on the human capacity and staff welfare of FCTA staff. He further expressed his resolve to drive vigorously policies and programmes that would enhance the lives of residents of the Territory. With these remarks, the new Permanent Secretary inaugurated the series of Management meetings that would take place under his supervision.
Mining sector: Bello restates need for environmental impact assessment Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja
ÏÏÏThe FCT Minister, Malam Mu-
hammad Musa Bello, has expressed the need for strong safeguards against environmental degradation and concern for the welfare of host communities in the development of the mines and minerals sector. Malam Bello made this call when he declared open the Executive Session of the maiden National Council on Mines and Mineral Resources Development in Nigeria which held in Abuja last week. His words: “No matter how much benefits we get eventually from the exploitation of minerals as long as we do that at the danger of the degradation of the environment and expense of the welfare of the host communities, all these benefits will
be of no use in the end.” The FCT Minister described the solid minerals sector as the foundation for the rapid economic progress recorded in the early years of Nigeria before the discovery of oil in 1956. He recalled “about 100 years ago Nigeria was a highly recognised centre of mining activities. There were active mining of Tin in Jos, Gold in Bida and Coal in Enugu.” He expressed hope in the return to the glorious days when mines and mineral were the major drivers of the national economy, citing the recent discovery of the rich deposit of Nickel in Kaduna State. Bello, therefore, anticipated a greater future for Nigeria given the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration towards the diversification of the economy and the concerted efforts
of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development towards harnessing the potentials of the sector. He described the establishment of a National Council on Mining Development as a dynamic institutional framework that would foster effective partnership between the Federal and State Governments as well as the host communities for a brighter future for the industry. In his address at the occasion, Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, revealed that the essence of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD) is the need to improve on the engagement of stakeholders at the subnational level, particularly the state governments and communities in order to achieve a more beneficial participation of critical stakeholder groups in the mining sector.
China opens visa centres in Abuja, Lagos ÏÏÏThe Embassy of
People’s Republic of China on Monday announced it would open new visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos to enhance visa process and ease applicants’ burden. The Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Lin Jing, made this known at a media conference in Abuja. He said the centres would assist the embassy in attending to visa applicants. He added that the plan to open the centres was borne out of concern to resolve the challenge of limited resources and facilities faced by the embassy in visa processing. Jing said “we have limited resources and facilities and over the past years, we have seen visa applicants sweating under scorching sun. “We have been trying to improve our services and make it more comfortable for visa applicants while waiting for interviews or to submit applications. “We are happy to announce that the China visa application centre in Abuja will open today, Wednesday, September 20, 2017. “We hope that with the opening of the centre, we will improve services to applicants.” According to him, the Abuja Chinese Visa Application Centre is at
Church Gate Plaza, Central Business District. “From Wednesday, passport holders wishing to visit the People’s Republic of China are requested to apply for visa at Abuja China Visa Application Centre. “Applicants are required to submit applications at the centre by visiting www.visaforchina.org to make appointment in advance,” the envoy said. He said diplomatic and official passport holders or applicants applying for Hong Kong/Macao Special Administrative Region visa/ entry permits were to submit their applications directly to the Chinese Embassy. The envoy, who said that another centre would be opened in Lagos where visa applications would be submitted, added that the application process and duration for visa issuance remain unchanged. The envoy said that the new visa application fee was now N31,250, which included service fees and VAT. He said it was the embassy that would decide whether to approve or disapprove applications, noting that after visas were issued, passports would be sent back to application centres where applicants would pick them up.
FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Ohaa (middle), with officials of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), FCTA chapter, when they paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja…recently.
FCT nurses, midwives collaborate with NCPC for treatment of pilgrims
ÏÏÏExecutive
Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja, has said that the Commission under his watch, is working in consonance with the FCT nurses and midwives association in an effort to ensure the steady health of Nigerians performing pilgrims at the Holy lands. According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the organisation, Mr. Celestine Toruka, the organisation since they engaged in the collaboration, recorded zero motility to its achievement. The NCPC in Abuja recently played host to the Executive Members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, FCT Chapter, led by the National Chairman, Comrade Deborah Yusufu. He informed his guests that the Commission’s Federal Medical
Committee usually has the nurses and the midwives in every set of pilgrimage. He equally intimated that the Commission had resolved to organise Medical exams annually for Medical Personnel who would take care of the pilgrims during pilgrimage which is conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to the NCPC boss, the involvement of JAMB in the conduct of the exams guarantees transparency and speed as results are released within one week after the exams. Rev. Uja also commended the Nursing profession for their invaluable role in the development of healthcare in Nigeria. The NCPC boss told the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives FCT Chapter that since he assumed office over a year
ago, the Commission has not lost a Single pilgrim. According to him; “we want people to go on pilgrimage and come back healthier than they were before”. He further explained that in managing health, NCPC does not place any group above others as all are important. Earlier, the Chairman of FCT Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Deborah Yusufu, said they were in NCPC to familiarise with the Executive Secretary and to seek for a healthy working relationship between the association and the Commission. She canvassed for quality representation of Nurses in the NCPC Federal Medical Committee and affirmed that the Nurses are the largest group in the Health sector and as such their role is critical.