Saturday, April 28, 2012
NEW SECTOR COMMANDER FOR RIVERS STATE FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Corps has appointed Dr Kayode Olagunju, a Corps Commander as the Sector Commander for Rivers State Command of the Corps.
He replaces Commander Mary Wakawa who has been redeployed to Ondo State as Sector Commander.
Kayode Olagunju, until his redeployment to Rivers State was the Corps Transport Standardization Officer at the National Headquarters and also a member of the FRSC Management.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree ( PhD) in Transportation Geography from the University of Lagos, Master of Science degree in Transport Studies from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.
He also attended several other professional courses and conferences both within and outside Nigeria.
Olagunju, a pioneer staff of the organization had previously served as Sector Commander in Oyo State between 1992 and 1996 . He was also a two time Lagos Sector Commander (1999-2003 and 2008-2009), Sector Commander Adamawa State (2005-2007) and Kogi State (2008-2009).
Kayode Olagunju had also served as Deputy Director, Manpower Development, Head, Media and Publishing Section and Corps Public Education Officer, all at the Road Safety Headquarters, among other past appointments.
The new Sector Commander also served as a member of the Federal Government Task Force on Trade Facilitation and United States Agency International Development USAID/Markets, Trade and Transportation on LAKAJI Corridor.
Also, a member of the Nigeria National Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Economic Commission on West African States (ECOWAS) and the Federal Government Enlarged National Focal Point on Trade Matters and was a Nigerian delegate to the World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review on Nigeria in Geneva, in June 2011.
Dr Olagunju is a well decorated officer with several awards and commendations. He won the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Award for Outstanding Performance and Dedication to Service in 1993 and 1999 . He hopes to work with all stakeholders to evolve better road culture in the State.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Local content drive: Samsung(SHI) begins overseas training programme for Nigerian youths
In its supportive efforts at ensuring that the local content input drive in the oil and gas sector is realised to meet Federal Government's transformation agenda, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), has sent the first group of 20 young Nigerian trainees, to Samsung’s shipyard in Geoje, South Korea on an extensive training programme.
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), is a foremost world class shipbuilding and offshore fabrication company.
The company’s commitment to training Nigerians was first announced on February 6, with the ground breaking of its new world class training facility in LADOL Free Zone, called (“Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy”).
The training facility will cost about USD 10 million and will benefit from having Samsung’s world class training programs and equipment.
Samsung has however, gone a step further by launching Samsung’s Intensive Technical Training Programme, providing full scholarships for young Nigerians to also be trained at itsworld class facility in Korea.
The scholarship programme run by Samsung exclusively for young Nigerians, would cost the South Korea based company a sum of $300,000 to train each group of twenty trainees.
Speaking at the pre-departure ceremonies for the youths at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos last week, the General Manager SAMSUNG Heavy Industries in Nigeria, Mr. Frank Ejuzi told journalists that the company decided to key in to the training of Nigerian youths to meet the local content initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan by sending the youths for training in South Korea to acquire technology which they are expected acquire and transfer to the oil and gas sector of the economy.
“ In order to recover the Nigerian local content initiative of Mr President, we felt it is important to support that initiative and my company is sending the first batch of youths in the oil and gas sector for training in Korea in other for them to transfer the technology to our other youths back home,” said Ejuzi
Samsung’s commitment to training Nigerians ahead of any contract award demonstrates the Company’s true intention to share technology with and promote local content in Nigeria. Samsung believes in promoting mutual prosperity with Nigeria by enabling Nigerians to fully participate in and contribute to the world class offshore fabrication projects.
For Samsung this is the start of a long-term relationship with Nigeria and they have already shown themselves to be unique amongst their peers, being the first and only international contractor to proactively begin training Nigerians, before winning any contracts in Nigeria.
Samsung believes Nigeria will be the hub for oil and gas in West Africa and their long-history of success in this industry has taught them that the key to harnessing success and achieving local content is investment in people. By making huge investments in Nigeria’s human capital Samsung is helping to finally unleash Nigeria’s potential.
Samsung has been working with the first group of trainees, (17 men and three women) for over a month already, preparing them for the program, including one week of social training. So the group was very well prepared when they left on Saturday.
In South Korea, the group will be trained for a full month at Samsung’s state-of-art Shipbuilding and Fabrication Yard in Geoje.
The group will be trained by teachers that are world -skills- champions, in range of fabrication related subjects. At the end of the month the group will be eligible to acquire up to four internationally accredited certificates.
Also speaking at the pre-departure ceremony, two of the beneficiaries agreed that the overseas intensive training would give them the appropriate knowledge needed in the oil and gas field.
According to Mr Henry Ototo an environmental Engineer, the successful completion of the programme certify him internationally in welding and fabrication in oil and gas industry.
“I just want to thank Samsung heavy industry for keying –in into President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda because, youths of today, they said, are the leaders of tomorrow and we are going for an intensive training at Koje and we want to let Samsung management know that we will not let them down and even our country Nigeria .We will come back and harness what would have been impacted into us from Koje into our own society”
Also Miss Duze Cornelius Anthony another beneficiary of the training programme and who is an engineering graduate from the Niger Delta said, ‘the programme is going to better my life because before I had no job as an engineer but I was teaching. Instead of practicing my profession as an engineer, I was teaching , but today I am happy that Samsung is giving me the opportunity to showcase my professional ability as an engineer and that is going to better my lots and those around me.
She continues, “we are talking about oil and gas, we are talking about welding and fabrication and I think that I would be privileged to work in the oil and gas industry and they are saying that when we come back we will have the privilege of training others, it is also going to better my community as those who have not been to Korea would benefit from the experience I would be acquiring from there.”
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), is a foremost world class shipbuilding and offshore fabrication company.
The company’s commitment to training Nigerians was first announced on February 6, with the ground breaking of its new world class training facility in LADOL Free Zone, called (“Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy”).
The training facility will cost about USD 10 million and will benefit from having Samsung’s world class training programs and equipment.
Samsung has however, gone a step further by launching Samsung’s Intensive Technical Training Programme, providing full scholarships for young Nigerians to also be trained at itsworld class facility in Korea.
The scholarship programme run by Samsung exclusively for young Nigerians, would cost the South Korea based company a sum of $300,000 to train each group of twenty trainees.
Speaking at the pre-departure ceremonies for the youths at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos last week, the General Manager SAMSUNG Heavy Industries in Nigeria, Mr. Frank Ejuzi told journalists that the company decided to key in to the training of Nigerian youths to meet the local content initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan by sending the youths for training in South Korea to acquire technology which they are expected acquire and transfer to the oil and gas sector of the economy.
“ In order to recover the Nigerian local content initiative of Mr President, we felt it is important to support that initiative and my company is sending the first batch of youths in the oil and gas sector for training in Korea in other for them to transfer the technology to our other youths back home,” said Ejuzi
Samsung’s commitment to training Nigerians ahead of any contract award demonstrates the Company’s true intention to share technology with and promote local content in Nigeria. Samsung believes in promoting mutual prosperity with Nigeria by enabling Nigerians to fully participate in and contribute to the world class offshore fabrication projects.
For Samsung this is the start of a long-term relationship with Nigeria and they have already shown themselves to be unique amongst their peers, being the first and only international contractor to proactively begin training Nigerians, before winning any contracts in Nigeria.
Samsung believes Nigeria will be the hub for oil and gas in West Africa and their long-history of success in this industry has taught them that the key to harnessing success and achieving local content is investment in people. By making huge investments in Nigeria’s human capital Samsung is helping to finally unleash Nigeria’s potential.
Samsung has been working with the first group of trainees, (17 men and three women) for over a month already, preparing them for the program, including one week of social training. So the group was very well prepared when they left on Saturday.
In South Korea, the group will be trained for a full month at Samsung’s state-of-art Shipbuilding and Fabrication Yard in Geoje.
The group will be trained by teachers that are world -skills- champions, in range of fabrication related subjects. At the end of the month the group will be eligible to acquire up to four internationally accredited certificates.
Also speaking at the pre-departure ceremony, two of the beneficiaries agreed that the overseas intensive training would give them the appropriate knowledge needed in the oil and gas field.
According to Mr Henry Ototo an environmental Engineer, the successful completion of the programme certify him internationally in welding and fabrication in oil and gas industry.
“I just want to thank Samsung heavy industry for keying –in into President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda because, youths of today, they said, are the leaders of tomorrow and we are going for an intensive training at Koje and we want to let Samsung management know that we will not let them down and even our country Nigeria .We will come back and harness what would have been impacted into us from Koje into our own society”
Also Miss Duze Cornelius Anthony another beneficiary of the training programme and who is an engineering graduate from the Niger Delta said, ‘the programme is going to better my life because before I had no job as an engineer but I was teaching. Instead of practicing my profession as an engineer, I was teaching , but today I am happy that Samsung is giving me the opportunity to showcase my professional ability as an engineer and that is going to better my lots and those around me.
She continues, “we are talking about oil and gas, we are talking about welding and fabrication and I think that I would be privileged to work in the oil and gas industry and they are saying that when we come back we will have the privilege of training others, it is also going to better my community as those who have not been to Korea would benefit from the experience I would be acquiring from there.”
Monday, April 2, 2012
Italian Company's ''Greek'' Gift to President Jonathan: SERAP petition EFCC
The Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) today asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) to investigate the allegations that an Abuja-based Italian construction company gave a church building to the Nigeria Pressident, Goodluck Jonathan as a gift.
President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience and the Bayelsa state governor, Seriki Dickson during the dedication of the 2,500-seat church building in his home town, Otuoke; the building was donated to him by Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG).
In a press statement signed by SERAP’s Executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said it “petitioned Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging him to “urgently begin a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegations that the Abuja-based Italian construction company, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG) gave to President Goodluck Jonathan as ‘gift’ a 2,500-seat church building in Otuoke, his village in Bayelsa State.”
In a petition SERAP sent to the EFCC Chairman, Mr Mumuni said “We are seriously concerned that given the huge sum of money involved and the timing of the church building ‘gift’, the acts may amount to a bribe to the government by a construction company that has sought and obtained huge contracts from the federal government.”
“Procurement and investment agreements corrupted by this kind of ‘gift’ invariably lead to increased costs not only in higher prices but also in needlessly expanded and ultimately inefficient projects,” he added.
He said “Both the acts of giving and accepting the disguised bribe undermine the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice, and jeopardises sustainable development and the rule of law. The acts also hurt the government and ordinary Nigerians who may suffer as a result of bad execution of projects by GCG.”
According to SERAP, “the allegations violate Section 6 of the Code of Conduct for Public officers embodied in the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (CAP C15) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which provides that, “A public officer shall not ask for or accept any property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. The allegations also constitute a breach of national anti-corruption legislation and the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a party.”
The organization also asked the EFCC to “exert its mandate, power, and resources to ensure that the allegations are fully and effectively investigated the findings of the investigation published and the company and other suspected perpetrators held liable.”
“Foreign bribery is a crime even if the briber would have been awarded a contract or business advantage. It is therefore very important that the Commission sends a strong message that it is willing and able to step up its efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute cases of bribery in international business deals,” the organization added.
SERAP’s petition to EFCC:
Last months, local media reported that Mr Jonathan confirmed during the dedication of the 2,500-seat church building in his home town, Otuoke in Bayelsa state that the building was donated to him by Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG).
According to him, the Managing Director of Gitto made him a promise to build and donate the church to Otuoke community after he had complained of the aging structure of his church, which apparently no longer befits the status of the president’s village.
Gitto construction is a company stained with controversies in the areas it operates, it is facing allegations of destroying properties in Eket (Akwa Ibom) without compensating the property owners, as well as abandoning the Bodo-Bonny road in Bayelsa.
Also, only recently a group of lawmakers in the National Assembly have called on Mr Jonathan to review the N 58.6 billion contract awarded Gitto for the Second Niger bridge.
All these developments are fueling speculations that the church was built in order to give Gitto construction a smooth landing as the President reviews their contracts.
President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience and the Bayelsa state governor, Seriki Dickson during the dedication of the 2,500-seat church building in his home town, Otuoke; the building was donated to him by Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG).
In a press statement signed by SERAP’s Executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said it “petitioned Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging him to “urgently begin a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegations that the Abuja-based Italian construction company, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG) gave to President Goodluck Jonathan as ‘gift’ a 2,500-seat church building in Otuoke, his village in Bayelsa State.”
In a petition SERAP sent to the EFCC Chairman, Mr Mumuni said “We are seriously concerned that given the huge sum of money involved and the timing of the church building ‘gift’, the acts may amount to a bribe to the government by a construction company that has sought and obtained huge contracts from the federal government.”
“Procurement and investment agreements corrupted by this kind of ‘gift’ invariably lead to increased costs not only in higher prices but also in needlessly expanded and ultimately inefficient projects,” he added.
He said “Both the acts of giving and accepting the disguised bribe undermine the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice, and jeopardises sustainable development and the rule of law. The acts also hurt the government and ordinary Nigerians who may suffer as a result of bad execution of projects by GCG.”
According to SERAP, “the allegations violate Section 6 of the Code of Conduct for Public officers embodied in the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (CAP C15) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which provides that, “A public officer shall not ask for or accept any property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. The allegations also constitute a breach of national anti-corruption legislation and the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a party.”
The organization also asked the EFCC to “exert its mandate, power, and resources to ensure that the allegations are fully and effectively investigated the findings of the investigation published and the company and other suspected perpetrators held liable.”
“Foreign bribery is a crime even if the briber would have been awarded a contract or business advantage. It is therefore very important that the Commission sends a strong message that it is willing and able to step up its efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute cases of bribery in international business deals,” the organization added.
SERAP’s petition to EFCC:
Last months, local media reported that Mr Jonathan confirmed during the dedication of the 2,500-seat church building in his home town, Otuoke in Bayelsa state that the building was donated to him by Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG).
According to him, the Managing Director of Gitto made him a promise to build and donate the church to Otuoke community after he had complained of the aging structure of his church, which apparently no longer befits the status of the president’s village.
Gitto construction is a company stained with controversies in the areas it operates, it is facing allegations of destroying properties in Eket (Akwa Ibom) without compensating the property owners, as well as abandoning the Bodo-Bonny road in Bayelsa.
Also, only recently a group of lawmakers in the National Assembly have called on Mr Jonathan to review the N 58.6 billion contract awarded Gitto for the Second Niger bridge.
All these developments are fueling speculations that the church was built in order to give Gitto construction a smooth landing as the President reviews their contracts.
source:channels
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Rebels in Mali Say They Control Major Military Base
Tuareg rebels say they have taken control of an important military
base in north Mali after having surrounded the location for weeks.
Bayes
Ag Dicknane, an officer with the rebel forces on the ground near
Tessalit, said Sunday that there are no Malian soldiers left in the
town's base.
A spokesman for the Malian army Colonel Idrissa Traore said he was verifying the claim.
The
military base in Tessalit is one of the largest in northern Mali.
Whoever controls the installation has a major strategic advantage as
the town has an airport.
Tuareg rebels began attacking
locations across north Mali in mid January. Dozens have been killed on
both sides and more than 100,000 civilians have be forced to flee the
fighting.
The rebels want independence for the north of Mali.
source:AP
Preacher: World's End Prediction 'wrong'
A California preacher who foresaw the world's end last year is
acknowledging for the first time that his apocalyptic prophecy was
wrong.
In a missive posted on his independent ministry's
site on Thursday, 90-year-old Harold Camping says he has no evidence
the end of the world will come anytime soon. The preacher also says he
isn't interested in considering future dates.
Camping's
Family Radio International spent millions of dollars in the last few
years putting up thousands of billboards plastered with the Judgment
Day message.
After global cataclysm didn't occur on May 21
as he had forecast, Camping revised his prophecy, saying he had been
off by five months.
He was later hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke.
source:officialwire/AP
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