Month: August 2023

Mr Olugbenga Adebayo, Chief Executive Officer of Gadeshire Travel Company, on Tuesday called on the new Minister of Tourism, Ms Lola Ade-John, to re-evaluate the nation’s tourism masterplan.

Adebayo while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said this was neccesary to ensure the current realities in the industry were inculcated in the masterplan for the advancement of the industry.

He congratulated the minister on her appointment and advised on the need to work with industry players as tourism is mostly private sector driven.

“I congratulate the tourism minister on her appointment and advise her to look into Nigeria’s tourism masterplan and see how the previous documents can be merged with current realities of contemporary tourism.

“And as a matter of urgency, direct the implementation of various action plans that are achievable.

“The minister needs to work with industry players and get involved with the industry activities so as to have swift understanding of the industry and have a first hand experience of what policies that can be of immense benefit for us as a nation and for all the stakeholders.

“There is the need for the minister to liaise from time to time with other allied ministries and agencies like Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Immigration and more.

“Let there be a great synergy and great working relationship with all these allied agencies,” he said.

Adebayo expressed optimism that things would be different now that there is a stand-alone ministry for tourism.

He said this development was also a boost for Nigeria’s allied industry of culture and creative economy as well as entertainment, for having their own stand-alone ministry.

“We can now be rest assured that some of great policies that we have been pushing for proper implementation will have direct attention of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and somebody will directly be held accountable for every activity and operations of the industry.

“Tourism industry in Nigeria has suffered a lot of setback and the industry just needs leadership that can hit the ground running.

Adebayo reiterated the need for the minister to engage stakeholders across the tourism value chain for sporadic growth of the industry.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Alhaji Abdullahi Dantasidi, National President, National Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Cooperative Society, has appealed for President Bola Tinubu’s support in alleviating the hardship faced by artisanal miners across the country in the discharge of their duties.

He made the appeal in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Nasarawa Local Government area of Nasarawa state on Tuesday.

According to Dantasidi, in spite of being the first explorers of mineral resources in mining sites across the country, artisanal miners faced several hazards in the discharge of their duties such as health, security and environment hazards hence the appeal.

“Our members are exposed to different manners of health and environmental hazards and insecurity threats among others, because of the nature of the job and the location of the mining sites which are often in the deep forests.

“I therefore appeal to you sir, to take proactive action over the health, safety of artisenal miners and the environmental situations in mining sites where they ply their trade by providing them with safety kits and adequate security,” he said.

He said lack of adequate support from previous administrations had led to huge losses with regards to income generated revenue, adequate skilled manpower, hence the call on President Tinubu to embrace a different approach on artisanal miners.

“We are not illegal miners. We are artisanal miners and with your support we can achieve a lot for the country. We have the adequate skilled manpower to make the solid minerals sector a huge revenue generator for the Federal Government,” he said.

Also, Dantasidi appealed to President Tinubu’s administration to set up fair and proper marketplace parameters for artisanal miners to sell their products at appropriate prices without being cheated by potential buyers, some of whom are foreigners.

He congratulated Mr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, on his appointment and pledged to work closely with him to achieve President Tinubu’s administration’s set goals in the mining sector.

“I also urge the minister to create avenues for both government officials and critical stakeholders to interface with artisanal miners on issues and challenges they faced while carrying out their duties.

“An improved synergy between government and artisanal miners will go a long way in boosting the output of the sector and open doors of prosperity and fruitful engagement for both parties.

“This will not only be beneficial to all stakeholders in the sector but also lay a solid foundation for the younger generation who may indicate interest in the mining sector,” he added. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee of the Diaspora Chairmen (CDC) has congratulated the newly inaugurated ministers by President Bola Tinubu, urging them not to let the masses down.

Prince Stephen Tella, APC Chairman, Spain chapter and CDC Secretary General, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the appointments of new members of the Federal Executive Council were calls to rescue the nation.

According to Tella, the passion, character, capacity and commitment of the selected ministers to nation building in both private and public sectors are not hidden to many Nigerians, hence their nomination, screening and inauguration by the president.

“Without any iota of doubt, you all have equally distinguished yourselves in life and career, which we are sure the president noticed before nominating you for this exalted positions.

“All eyes are now on you to help the president actualise his renewed Hope Agenda.

“As you are inaugurated, we are very sure that Nigerians will begin to see positive changes in the society. Do your best to set Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development.

“You cannot afford to fail the populace who are eagerly waiting to see the difference you will be bringing to the table and their living conditions,” Tella said.

According to him, the nation is currently going through a lot of challenges at the moment, hence the need to join hands with the president to alleviate the masses’ suffering.

Urging the ministers to use their experience and exposure to bring relief to Nigerian citizens, Tella called on the ministers to show high level of commitment and selflessness.

He said: “The times are hard and citizens home and abroad are waiting eagerly.

“The duties ahead we know are huge, enormous and tasking, and we know that you all are capable and that you will hit the ground running.

“We appeal to you humbly to use this auspicious opportunity and appointments to make indelible marks in the lives of Nigerian people.

“Let us wipe away their tears and turn their seemingly hopeless situation around. We believe you won’t let them down.”

Tella urged the new federal executive council to serve with ‘impeccable integrity and honesty’ while also prioritising security and welfare of the children, youths, women and all Nigerians home and abroad.

Pledging support of the Diaspora community to the new federal executive council, Tella prayed God to grant the ministers wisdom to make the president, Nigerian masses and society proud in this administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Tinubu on Monday inaugurated his cabinet with 45 ministers, charging them to meet the expectations of the masses for a renewed socio-economic development. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Kwara will feature in 25 events at the forthcoming National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Mr Ibrahim Bako, the state’s Director of Sports Commission has revealed.

Bako made this known on Tuesday in Ilorin during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ahead of preparations for the games.

He said the commission is intensifying training for the athletes as they look to excel at the main event.

The director explained that the commission is putting team coaches on their toes to step up their trainings aimed at good performance at the games.

According to Bako, it is not going to be a jamboree as only the best will be selected for the games.

NAN reports that the state will take part in Athletics, Ayo, Badminton, Baseball, Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Dart, Fives, Deaf Athletics, Golf, Handball and Judo.

Others are: Karate, Para Table Tennis, Scrabble, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

The games will is scheduled to hold from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in Asaba.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Delta Government has reportedly completed the construction of 1,169 kilometres of roads and 597 kilometres of drainage projects in eight years of former Gov Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.

Mr Fred Dafioghor, the Permanent Secretary, Delta Ministry of Works, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Tuesday.

Dafioghor said that the Okowa-led administration had between May 2015 and May 2023, embarked on a total of 890 projects across the state.

According to him, the projects covers about 2,088 kilometers of roads and 1,230 kilometers of drainage system out of which 494 of the projects were completed.

“As at now, we had about 396 ongoing projects covering 919 kilometres of roads and 597 kilometers of drainage projects and inherited by the present administration of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori,” he said.

Dafioghor also noted that the Ministry of Works was a very major part of the Gov. Okowa’s administration in the sense that it executed several projects.

He added, ”Everybody who came to Asaba in 2015 about the time Okowa’s administration came in, will remember vividly that whenever it rained in Asaba, it was a nightmare for residents.

”So one of the things that Gov. Okowa did which is underground that nobody sees today, is the Major Storm Water Project that was executed in Asaba.

”In Asaba, we executed more than eight drainage projects. The first one was the completion of the drainage project in Jesus Saves Road,” he said.

The perm sec recalled that the construction of the drains began during the administration of the ex-Gov. James Ibori but was later abandoned until Okowa’s commitment and resilience completed it.

He also said that another milestone recorded by the previous administration was addressing the challenges of the Okpanam axis whenever it rained.

”Okpanam is about 100 metres higher than Asaba and because of the nature of this development, most of the rains that fall in Okpanam end up in Asaba.

”The previous administration took some very decisive steps to construct two major drainage projects to address those situations,” he said.

Dafioghor also said that aside the drains that were executed in Asaba and its environ, such projects had also commenced in other parts of the state, especially in the Warri/Effurun axis.

According to him, because of the continuity of governance, Gov. Oborevwori had inspected the project one month ago.

”Koka flyover is another great achievement of the previous administration. Everybody will always remember the nightmare they go through plying that route before its completion,” Dafiogho said.

He, however, noted that flooding had been a major challenge to civil engineering projects, especially during construction of roads and drains. in the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria