July 7, 2014 by The Nation

THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014

NEWS Cement manufacturers back Reps on quality review •‘Why we’re 42.5 quality-compliant’

•Vice-Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Prof. Debo Adeyewa (middle) presenting an award to a former chairman of the institution’s Family Forum, Pa Joshua Okusanya (right). With them is chairman of the forum, Mr Kehinde Bello, during the university’s family forum seminar at the Youth Centre, Mowe, Ogun State.

N20.8b U.S-backed power project coming

HE United States (U.S) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James P. Entwistle, at the weekend in Abuja said work on a new N20.8 billion power project in Nigeria will begin this month. The ambassador spoke in Abuja on America’s 238th National Day celebration. He said the 450 megawatts (MW) project is part of President Barack Obama’s “Power Africa” programme. The project, Entwistle explained, is in support of Nigeria’s infrastructural development. He said: “Our U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has a strong presence in and incredible commitment to Nigeria. From agriculture to infrastructure, our development experts are hard at work, partnering your government to produce sustainable, Nigerian-led solutions to the development challenges you

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

face. One particular highlight is President Obama’s ‘Power Africa’ programme, which already is attracting private sector investment that will result in power capacity and generation for Nigeria’s electricity grid. “A great example of this is the Azura Energy Project. With USAID backing and support, $130 million in venture capital was raised. The construction is slated to start this month and will add 450 MW of power to Nigeria’s electricity grid when it is completed. “This project underlines that development is no longer just a government-togovernment activity and that the role of the private sector is key. That’s why I’m delighted that some of the most well known U.S. companies are active here in Nigeria.” On the 2015 elections, the ambassador said the U.S was

committed to helping Nigeria achieve free, fair and credible elections. “We’re also deeply committed to helping you ensure that your elections, particularly the national ones in 2015, are free, fair, peaceful, and credible. We work closely with your Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the process is transparent, well monitored, and secure. Safeguarding and strengthening democracy is difficult work. But the recent Ekiti elections were an excellent example of what happens when all players— the government, citizens, security forces, and political parties—commit to ensuring respect for the electoral process and for one another.” Entsistle added: “As you’ve probably seen, I and the rest of the U.S. Mission team in Nigeria have been speaking out about the importance of non-violent elections, and we will continue to

do so. Once again, I urge all parties and candidates to publicly commit themselves now to not condoning, urging or fomenting violence before, during or after the elections next year. “I want to close by emphasising how optimistic I am about Nigeria. Since I arrived last November, I’ve been privileged to travel throughout the South, the Middle Belt and the North, and I’m constantly impressed by the resiliency and ingenuity of the Nigerian people. I’ve met farmers, herders, activists, politicians, pastors, imams and students. “I’m struck by how much more unites them than separates them. They all want to participate in a strong, active democracy. They all want better roads, better schools and more access to basic services, such as clean water and electricity. They want more economic opportunity for themselves and their families...”

Doctors meet today on national strike

OCTORS, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), will hold an emergency delegates’ meeting in Abuja today to review their demands and negotiations with the Federal Government. One of delegates said the meeting will appraise the outcome of the July 3 meeting in Abuja between members of the NMA’s National Executive Council, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Health and other top officials in the Federal Ministry of Health. The source said the outcome of the meeting would determine whether or not the nationwide strike, in its second week, would be suspended. The sources added: “We can’t call off the strike without the congress meeting. That is where we are going to decide whether or not we are satisfied with whatever agreement the executives have reached with the Federal Government. We will appraise what is on offer, vis-a-vis our demands. Then we will take the stand of the house back to the government for further negotiation. “Many of the issues raised in the letter we wrote to the Secretary to the Government

•Lagos hospitals in skeletal services Consultants’ll attend to patients, says MDCAN president

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ESPITE appeared at the weekend for patients seeking treatment at government hospitals. The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has said its members would continue to attend to patients, despite the ongoing doctors strike. The consultants had promised to join the action but were stopped by the Industrial Court. The medical consultants said they were ready to comply with the restraining order on all parties, as contained in the ruling and delivered by Justice M. N. Esowe on June 27. The judgment was on the motion ex-parte for an Order of Interim Injunction. It restated its support for the ideals of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to improve services at all tiers of the Health Care sector. By Wale Adepoju

of the Federation have not been addressed. It seems they are playing politics with a very delicate situation that may cause anarchy and divisions in the Health sector. It was a surprise when we read in the news that the Federal Government said it had reached an agreement with us.” Doctors in federal and stateowned hospitals started a nationwide strike on July 1 over issues relating to appointments of officers into choice positions

in the nation’s public health institutions. The NMA, in a 24-point demand letter to the Federal Government in June, directed that either such positions be reversed or doctors would begin a total nationwide strike, which they started last week. Also, the Lagos State chapter of the NMA yesterday said it will meet today to deliberate on the letter its national body received from the Federal Government on the indefinite nationwide strike it declared last week.

Its Chairman, Dr Francis Faduyile, said the government wrote the association to present its position on the doctors’ 24-point demands. He said the NMA would assess letter to decide on the next line of action. Faduyile said no decision could be reached on the strike until the association’s top leaders meet. The doctors, he said, would continue with the strike until the national NMA directs otherwise. The NMA state chairman accused the Federal Government of causing the strike because of the distortions it created in the Health sector. Patients were still agonising at the weekend in public hospitals in the state. Then strike enters the sixth day today. At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igboi, Lagos (NOHIL) and the Federal Medical Centre at Ebute Metta, among other facilities, doctors boycotted their duty posts in compliance with the NMA directive. Most patients sought treatment in private hospitals.

AJOR cement manufacturers have promised to align with the House Representatives’ position that the 42.5MPA cement grade should be the minimum standard of the product to be produced in the country. The said expired cement should be withdrawn from the market. Major cement manufacturing companies, like Bua, Ibeto and Dangote, had agreed with the quality review by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which pegged the 42.5 grade for general purpose. It was learnt that they have been producing the quality grade cement and were not intending to reduce its quality. The Yakubu Dogara-led ad hoc Committee on Cement Composition and Pigmentation, after a public hearing among stakeholders, submitted its report to the House. In the report, the committee urged the SON to implement its cement standardisation, adding that manufacturers should retool for the production of the higher grade. The recommendation, according to the report, was based on the fact that if made

By Olamilekan Andu

to choose between 32.5 and 42.5 grades of cement, consumers would choose the 42.5 higher grade. It noted that because those who build structures are mostly non-professionals, it would be in the nation’s interest to adopt a cement grade that is less susceptible to wrong application. Also, the committee said any manufacturer or distributor implicated in the sale of expired cement should be severely sanctioned to ensure that sanity prevails in the cement manufacturing and construction industry. The Chairman of Bua Cement, Abdulsamad Rabiu, said the House of Representatives did a patriotic job for making those recommendations. Rabiu said the move should be supported by manufacturers with the safety and well-being of the people at heart. He said his company, which operates the oldest cement plant in Nigeria - Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) - had been producing the higher grade of cement from the outset. The company chief said the House decision was in order.

Akinyemi conferred with Hasken of Adamawa

HE Deputy Chairman of the National Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has been conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha. The Lamido is a delegate to the conference. A statement by Akpandem James, the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications of the conference, said Akinyemi’s was conferred with the chieftaincy title for his firmness, honesty and fearlessness in handling proceedings at the conference. “Deputy Chairman of the National Conference and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has been conferred with the traditional title of Hasken Adamawa by the His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha (CFR), the Lamido Adamawa. “The conferment of the title, whose investiture would be conducted by the Adamawa Emirate Council after the National Conference, was conveyed in a June 27 letter by the Lamido to Prof Akinyemi. The letter reads: “I have observed your patience, expertise in handling of the National Conference; fairness, fearlessness, justness and firmness during the three months I have been participating in the plenary of the National Conference. “These are the things which informed my decision to honour you with the traditional title of Hasken Adamawa, which means the “Light of Adamawa”. “In view of the above therefore, you may wish to suggest a suitable date of your choice for your investiture and communicate same to the Adamawa Emirate Council.” Akinyemi accepted the honour, adding: “I accept with pride this honour. At the end of the National Conference and the Ramadan, I will approach the Adamawa Emirate Council to discuss the most appropriate time convenient to Your Royal Highness.”

‘Sam4Nigeria’ appoints media director

HE Sam4Nigeria Presidential Campaign Organisation, the campaign organisation of frontline entrepreneur, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, has appointed Mr. Macauley Hunohashi as the Director of Media and Information. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the organisation’s Chief of Staff of the Campaign, Alhaji Abdul Gombe, said Hunohashi will bring over 30 years’ experience in the media to the campaign. “We are confident that, as the campaign changes gear,

Hunohashi is just the person needed to press home Sam4Nigeria’s central message of big ideas, healing and change,” Gombe said. The new spokesman, who holds a B.Sc in Mass Communications, was the Political Editor and presenter of Political Update on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna. Besides his extensive reporting from hot spots around the world, including Liberia, Rwanda and Sudan, Hunohashi also covered the police and defence, among other beats, for the NTA.