Tag Archives: Establish

FG To Establish Specialised Petroleum Force To Tackle Militancy

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As part of its 2017 target to ensure zero militancy and drastic reduction of violence in the Niger Delta, which affect Nigeria’s oil production, the federal government has indicated that it would set up a specialised petroleum force, comprising coastal patrol teams, Niger Delta subsidiary police, and other paramilitary set-ups.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari launched his government’s policy document for the country’s oil and gas sector – the seven big wins in Abuja.

Kachikwu, who spoke during the post-event press briefing noted that the specialised force would complement whatever efforts and mechanisms oil companies would put in place to secure their production assets and activities.

Besides, he gave reasons why the planned co-location of new refineries alongside existing ones in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri was taking long to be concluded as well as the delay in having a Final Investment Decision (FID) on Train-7 expansion project of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

The minister had initially stated that under a new security arrangement, the government planned to pull out the country’s military from the Niger Delta region and allow oil companies set up their own security processes to safeguard their production.

He also stated that the specialised force would be amphibious in character and equipped to support the security efforts of the oil companies.
According to him, some participants in the current Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants would be incorporated into the force as the government looks to close down the programme in 2017.

“All over the world, oil companies take care of their facilities. The presidency has also agreed to look at the possibility of setting up a specialised petroleum force that is going to draw on the elites of the security services, and be provided with resources that are amphibious, that are technology-driven to enable them to be able to respond to the request of the oil companies if they get overwhelmed outside their first line security,” Kachikwu said.

He further stated that, “The government is looking critically at the amnesty programme and we are looking towards an eventual wind up of the programme in about one year period.

“The whole idea is within that time frame we need to address some issues. We are going to be looking at things like coastal patrols, Niger Delta subsidiary policing and some paramilitary type organisations not armed. You will be able to suck in some of those people who were trained.

“We are also going to provide funding for those who want to set up their own businesses within the corridors of those areas.”
Speaking on the delayed Final Investment Decision (FID) on NLNG Train-7 project, the Kachikwu explained: “Bonny Train-7 is an issue of money. The prices of gas today is low, so anybody who is going to put money into gas development today needs to have very really strong fiscals.”

He noted the government was still committed to the project, saying, “That is not looking very encouraging, but the nice thing is that the NLNG has done very well and has access to be able to get facilities. So, we are going to be working with them on Train-7, as Train-7 is what we have commitment to.

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Nigeria To Establish N5bn World Class Medical Research Centre

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The Institute of Human Virology, IHVN, and Access Bank Plc, yesterday, unveiled plans to establish a N5 billion world class Medical Research Centre for infectious and non infectious diseases on Nigerian soil. Some of the diseases expected to be researched into include HIV&AIDS, tuberculosis, Lassa fever, cancer, among others.

The centre will be under the leadership of Professor Alash’le G. Abimiku, a distinguished scientist and will be used to create an enabling environment for creative thinking and innovation in science to address Nigeria’s and global health priorities.

Making the announcement at a press conference in Lagos on the collaboration with Access Bank, IHVN, and Dangote Foundation to raise N5 billion for the centre, Chief Executive Officer of IHVN, Dr. Patrick Dakum, said the building of the centre would improve the management of infectious diseases that had continued to ravage communities across the country.

“Nigerians have been victims of many disease outbreaks in the last three decades now, HIV has claimed the lives of many Nigerians, Ebola and most, recently, Lassa fever have become diseases of great public health concern because of their devastating consequences on the lives of the population, especially the productive sector,” he said. Executive Director, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu, said the ultra-modern research facility would go a long way to help nip diseases in the bud.

Credit: Vanguard

Nigeria To Establish Science & Technology Development Bank

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The Nigerian government plans to establish a Science and Technology Development Bank, a government official said on Tuesday.

According to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the bank would assist the informal sector to close the technological gap and give financial assistance for research and innovation activities.

The Minister made the announcement at a meeting with the National Association of Motor Mechanics and Technicians in Abuja.

He told the gathering that the ministry had commenced the process of establishing the bank, with a view to implementing a venture capital component to improve the process of technological development.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Lagos To Establish First DNA Forensic Lab In Nigeria

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In furtherance of its commitment to the criminal justice sector reforms and take the fight against crime to a greater level, the Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced that it has concluded plans to establish the first ever high-powered DNA Forensic Laboratory in Nigeria which will take off within the next six to 12 months.

The lab, which would be called the Lagos State DNA Forensics Centre (LSDFC), when fully operational, will fulfill an unmet need for DNA profiling which is a unique forensic technique that is now being used all over the world.

Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on Tuesday, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said the establishment of the centre was another eloquent testimony of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s sincerity and seriousness towards fighting all forms of criminality.

Mr. Kazeem, who addressed the media alongside senior officials of the Ministry, said Governor Ambode had been at the vanguard of the war against domestic, sexual and violent crimes, and that the centre was geared towards vigorous justice sector reforms.

He recalled the ground-breaking donation of equipment worth N4.8 billion to the Nigerian Police, the Light Up Lagos Project, and the recent solidarity visit of the Governor to crime flash points like the Isawo area of Ikorodu where criminals have been terrorizing innocent citizens, among others as further proofs of the Governor’s determination to tackle crime.

Speaking on the importance of the forensic centre, the Commissioner said the facility which would be driven by the Ministry of Justice with active support of the Governor, will focus on DNA analysis to support the justice sector in diverse areas such as “collection and preserving reference and evidentiary DNA which can later be used in identifying criminals; decoding familial relationships of individuals which could also be a tool for the judicial system; and identifying victims and remains after natural and manmade calamities.”

Mr. Kazeem also explained that DNA profiling is an extraction of DNA from body fluids, semen, nails, hair and other DNA generic sources, adding that the centre would greatly help to controvert evidence of alibi and confirm physical presence of suspects at the scene of a crime and the origin of DNA to such suspects.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Ireland To Establish Development Centre In Calabar

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The Republic of Ireland has indicated its preparedness to partner Nigeria, using Cross River State as the pilot state, to ensure it attains socio-economic and infrastructural development.

Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sean Hoy, disclosed this while on a courtesy call to the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade.

The Irish government believes this will help address the problem of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

The Ambassador said that  his team are in Calabar to draw a framework of development that involves the state and Federal Government, in a bid to find the way forward in their respective developmental strives, as well as help curb restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Hoy who also announced the establishment of a development centre in Calabar as part of the initiative, said he had visited Bayelsa and Rivers States before choosing Calabar as the choice location.

Governor Ayade revealed that it is critical to address the restiveness that has characterised the Niger Delta region, saying no development can take place where crisis and tension exist.

He maintained that the crisis and challenges of Niger Delta are unpardonable and no matter how much one has given to a man, liberty is better than slavery.

Credit: ChannelTv

Boko Haram: FG To Establish Trauma Centre In North East

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Federal Government has concluded arrangements for the establishment of trauma centres in the North East and other areas affected by the Boko Haram crisis to treat victims before the end of this year.

It will also set up healthcare centres/clinics in each of the ward areas of the federation in order to provide healthcare delivery services at the doorstep of the masses.

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale, disclosed this yesterday when he led other senior health officials on a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shettima at the Government House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Professor Adewale said he and his entourage were in the state on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari as part of Federal Government team to assess the general health system in the North East and how best to restore it back to its lost glory following the deadly activities and destruction caused by Boko Haram.
Responding, Governor Shettima thanked the minister for the visit which he described as timely as his administration has started rebuilding all the communities ravaged by insurgents.
Shettima said virtually all healthcare centres were destroyed by the insurgent, leaving the people of the state to survive at the mercy of God.

Credit: NationalMirror

FG Set To Establish Ebola Survival Clinic- NCDC Director

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The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abdulsalam Nasidi, says the Federal Government will soon establish an Ebola Survival Clinic in Lagos or Ibadan.

Fielding questions from journalists on the first anniversary of declaration of Nigeria Ebola-free in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr. Nasidi said doctors that defeated Ebola in Lagos would be used to quickly establish the proposed clinic.

He said the survival clinic by the NCDC would work in collaboration with tertiary health institutions to address the issue of relapse in survival.

“The clinic has the component of the follow-up, where we will be monitoring what happens to Ebola survivors daily,’’ he said.

According to Mr. Nasidi, the idea of survival clinics was conceived by the NCDC in Sierra Leone.

“The clinic was established by the Nigeria contingent to assist survivors in Sierra Leone, and it has gone a long way in bringing us to proper understanding what is happening to Ebola survivors.

“But in Nigeria, we do not practice it. We have come to realise with all the relapses and new pattern of epidemiology of Ebola, that we should now establish the clinic in Nigeria.’’

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Army To Establish Motorcycle Battalion To Combat Terrorism

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The Nigerian Army is considering setting up of a special force that will use motorcycles to check the activities of terrorists. The new battalion, when established will complement efforts of the ground troops.

It has been learnt that the Motorcycle Battalion will be a special unit out of the initiative of the army chief, Major General Tukur Buratai, in his efforts to wipe out Boko Haram within the shortest possible time.

Reports say that the new military high command brought up the idea as it had become evident that troops were finding it difficult to penetrate terrorists’ hideouts using military vehicles, especially in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

Reports point that it is difficult pursuing the terrorists in some parts of the North East as a result of the topography being a muddy area and this hinders the movement of the troops.

The troops in this contemplated motorcycle unit would be selected for training in the use of customized bikes and they will now be playing complementary roles to the ground troops.

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