Rotary club miss their way while going to Works ministry

The past District Governor of the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, Barrister Yamah Otsemobo Mohammed said they miss their way during the visit to the federal ministry of Works in Mabushi.Barrister Mohammed stated this when they paid a courtesy visit to the minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen in his office.According to Mohammed while describing the ministry of Works building as another testimony of the Ministry’s success story, he disclosed that, “We could not recognize the Works Ministry headquarters on our way to the place.”President of Rotary Club of Abuja Metro; Sir Falodun explained that the Minister had displayed a rare sense of service to humanity which deserves recognition and commendation.Responding, the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen said his determination to redeem the Nigeria roads was inspired by the zeal to make a difference.According to Onolememen, “I have also been guided by the same principle of Rotary which is embedded in the four way test.”The minister who pledged to put in more efforts in the road sector, said he is also encouraged by the fact that Nigerians can now plan their journey as they now know when to arrive at destinations because travel times have been reduced.

The many blunders of FCT transport secretariat

The Better Rapid Transit, BRT commonly known as the Bus Rapid Transit was introduced to tackle the problems of traffic jams in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT but it seems the transportation secretariat lacks initiative on how to go about it. Can they ever get it right?

It is said in the local parlance, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” It is also said, “If you can’t beat them, you join them.”

Dedicated BRT lane in Lagos

The Better Rapid Transit, BRT was adopted by the Lagos state government under the auspices of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Agency, LAMATA, with the aim of giving a lasting solution to the traffic problems in the state and to also create an easy, affordable, fast and cost-effective transportation for its populace.

However, prior to the introduction of the BRT in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the Transportation Secretariat sent delegation to other parts of the world including Lagos to understudy how the BRT operates.

Our findings showed that the Transportation Secretariat led by Engineer Jonathan Ivoke commenced the operation without any preparation on ground. There were no facilities such as ticketing booths, bus shelters and proper delineation of the dedicated BRT lanes.

Experts said if the FCTA is copying Lagos state or any other country or organisation, they should either do it the way they copied it or surpass them by doing it better but the case of the FCT is the opposite.

Bus stop

Unlike what is obtained in Lagos, the LAMATA manages the operation of the BRT, but in FCT, the Secretariat handles the management of the BRT alongside other things begging for attention.

Also, instead of going on with the planned commencement of the BRT, the Transportation Secretariat abandoned the project and decided to use the Subsidy Re-investment Programme, SURE-P buses provided by the federal government.

To worsen the matter, the secretariat went ahead to ban the operation of the mini-buses in the Territory without proper arrangement on ground for alternatives hence commuters were stranded which eventually led to protest in some parts of the territory.

And when the BRT was re-introduced with some companies bringing in more buses to the fore, there were no provisions for them to operate smoothly like it is done in Lagos where they have dedicated lanes.

Experts said there is possible failure in the operation of the BRT in the nearest future considering the fact that other cities where BRT systems are used have dedicated and very broad roads.

The damaged plastic demarcation causing accident

Recently, the FCTA acquired some thousands of plastic barriers for demarcation for BRT lane. In Lagos they make use of concrete barricades and even at that they are being damaged by trucks and trailers who often use them as a stopper whenever they experience break failure.

A staff in the Transport Secretariat who spoke on anonymity disclosed that the plastic barriers were bought so that, when they get spoilt, they would order for replacement but if they go for the concrete one, their means of making money every time for themselves would stop.

He further claimed that the plastic barriers are more expensive than the concrete ones. “Majority of the people working for government are here for their personal gains not for national interests. Some construction companies were ready to do it for free for us as their corporate responsibilities while some said they were going to do it for less the amount they used in acquiring the amount they used in bringing the plastic ones.”

Meanwhile, we discovered that the barriers are being destroyed by motorists who are angry that the barriers are causing accidents while some felt that the road was not broad enough.

We gathered that before now, there were plans by the FCTA to widen the road from AYA to Mararaba, the boundary between Abuja and Nasarawa but were abandoned halfway before Kugbo Furniture market.

Rickety BRT bus in Abuja

A motorist, Johnson Akeredolu, who resides in Karu, claimed that if the FCTA had continued the road project maybe up to Karu or Nyanya, it would have been easier for a lane to be dedicated to the BRT but any attempt to do it now would worsen the already traffic jam situation in the area.

However, it is worrisome that provision is not meant for the BRT operation in the FCT, which is in the Abuja masterplan.

During our last visit to Nyanya-Kugbo-Keffi road, we discovered that the barriers have been removed by angry motorists who felt that they are causing unnecessary traffic jam. The worrisome aspect of it is that even the buses that the demarcations are meant for don’t use them.

Unlike what is obtained in Lagos, where the lane is restricted to BRT buses, in Abuja, the private car owners make use of the lane even more than the buses unchallenged.

Meanwhile, the transport operators are not happy with the traffic situation in the FCT especially on Nyanya-Kugbo road as they not only spend hours on the road thereby burning their fuel/diesel unnecessarily but also drag road with other smaller vehicles which sometimes end up causing problem between them and other motorists.

Some of them who spoke on anonymity told Newsworld that they are finding it difficult to operate smoothly in the FCT. According to our source in the Abuja Urban Mass Transit Company, AUMTCO, she said the Transport Secretariat of the FCT Administration has failed to play their roles by not putting the necessary things in place.

She claimed that if the Transport Secretariat has put the barriers, nobody would have dragged space or road with them or hit their vehicles as it is the case on daily basis.

Another source in Shaanxi Bus Company, who also does not want his name mentioned; complained that they are having challenges because the Transport Secretariat failed to implement all their agreements in place.

He said in Lagos where they also operate, they make gains because lanes are dedicated to them hence they arrive at their destinations at good time unlike what they are experiencing in Abuja where they spend hours on the road.

The FCTA claimed that it would soon demarcate permanent BRT lanes for its buses. Chairman of the Taskforce on Traffic Management of High Capacity Bus Routes in the FCT, Wilson Unogwu said, the taskforce along with the 750 Vehicle Inspection Officers and the mobile court will ensure compliance with the measure.

He revealed that an agency would be established to enforce the measure alongside the 750 VIO personnel recruited to enforce the non-violation of the BRT lane.

“For now the taskforce has to do that job. We cannot wait for the agency to be established. That is why the taskforce is performing this role. During the yuletide period, a mobile court was inaugurated. That mobile court will also serve in this enforcement. If you are apprehended, you will be handed over to the mobile court for you to be prosecuted as the need arises,” he warned.

Experts said the enforcement may not be achieved afterall because of the security operatives in the FCT. Unogwu disclosed that the major challenge currently facing the committee was security personnel who violated the BRT lane.

“We are going to write to all the formations to warn them, and also, when the delineators are placed, we will now close the entry point. It is only when the BRT buses are coming that we will open it for them to use.”

It would be recalled that the territory is presently being littered with motorcycles by security operatives despite the ban. It took the personal intervention by the governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola for the military and other security operatives in the state to stop using the BRT lane.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, a business man believes that if the FCTA emulates Lagos properly, they will not only ease traffic jam but also make brisk money from the BRT policy.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the Transport Secretariat, Engr Ivoke, at a press conference to usher in the new transport policy claimed that the introduction would see the ban on mini-buses hence the road would be free.

He claimed that when a lane is dedicated to the BRT, motorists would be forced to park their cars and join the BRT but the current traffic situation in the territory especially along Nyanya-Kugbo road is alarming and unimaginable. This has resulted to motorists especially security operatives driving against the traffic during peak periods and also blare their sirens.

Even the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, otherwise known as the VIO; Police, Federal road Safety Corps, FRSC could not stop them. Even the threat of the director of the DRTS, Engr. Wilson Alade that they will deal with offenders driving against the traffic seems to hold no waters as people drive freely on one-way.

Meanwhile, investigation has shown that people now spend hours from AYA (Asokoro district) to Nyanya, a journey of less than 10 to 15 minutes, even the people that would have loved to park their cars are not thinking towards that because there are no roads for the BRT buses. The buses have to drag the small spaces with other vehicle users to get to their destinations.

Abdullahi claimed that if the FCTA had put structures in place to accommodate the BRT, many people would have parked their cars and join the BRT which, will make the road to be free.

To worsen the situations, the buses are few for the large number of passengers plying that route on daily basis. Our correspondent who took a walk to most of the bus-stops saw how passengers were stranded waiting endlessly for vehicles while some resorted to trekking long distances.

We saw some of them jumping at any private vehicles at sight, not minding the implication of such acts. David Okonofua said he would rather prefer to join private car owners and pay more to get to his destination on time than wait endlessly for BRT buses.

We gathered that the private car owners now capitalise on the current transportation situation to charge higher than the required transportation fare.

A passenger, who is also a journalist, who simply gave her name as Justina, is worried that the transportation secretariat is not keeping to its promises. According to her, apart from the barriers they promised, the mini-buses to augment that of the taxis inside the City centre are not visible anywhere.

“Rickety taxis are scattered across the city while the ones inaugurated recently are nowhere in the city instead they are used for long distances where BRT buses are supposed to be operating.

“Tricycles otherwise known as Keke NAPEP are still operating at the supposed restricted areas. Even the so-called BRT buses are not enough to take care of the passengers in the territory. Why is the FCTA inconsistent? I think they lack initiatives.” she asked.

As usual, the Transport Secretary, Engr Jonathan Ivoke did not pick his telephone calls and efforts to see him proved abortive. A staff in the secretariat, who spoke on anonymity, claimed it is easier to see President Goodluck Jonathan than seeing his boss. His reason is that he has no answers to most of the questions that would be asked and whenever a story is done against him, he harasses everybody in the office especially those in the Public Relations department.

The BRT, which is an initiative of an international organization to solve the transportation problems of major and mega cities of the world, is presently adopted in more than a hundred mega cities in the world such as Johannesburg, South Africa; Colorado, USA etc.

Some experts are of the opinion that the issue of a faster transportation system may be forfeited because the roads available for private and BRT vehicles are not wide enough. They said if the roads are not widened enough to accommodate more vehicles, people might resort to using the lanes that may be meant only for the BRT buses.

The rejected stone now chief cornerstone?

At a point, it was seen as a liability to be discarded but the story has changed. What was regarded as a liability has suddenly become an asset. What is responsible and how far can this transformation go?

There is no doubt that the Nigeria Premier League is the highest level of domestic football in the country. Before now, the league was managed by the then Nigeria Football Association as a department until it set it aside as an independent body. It later saw the registration of the league by the Chief Oyuki Obaseki-led team as an independent body.

The registration did not go down well with the Sani Lulu-led NFF because Obaseki was accused of running the Nigeria Premier League, NPL as a personal business hence there was rancour between the two bodies.

During the time, the league enjoyed sponsors from Globacom, DSTV, BMW, Lucozade Sport amongst others but shortly after he left, some of the did not renew their contracts while the ones remaining refused to pay the agreed fees.

Some of them claimed that they didn’t enjoy the mileage while others argued that they didn’t get value for their money. Shortly after Obaseki left, peace relatively returned but after the election that saw the coming of Davidson Owumi, another problem started. This time, it was between Owumi and Rumpson Baribote.

This lingered for a long time and when it was eventually agreed that Baribote should assume duty as chairman, the problem of sponsorship came up. All efforts to cancel the third party agreement made by Owumi’s short stay in office proved abortive hence Baribote was unable to secure another sponsorship deal.

When it was obvious that he won’t be able to cancel or secure another title sponsor, the club owners during its congress, impeached the chairman and set up an interim committee to run the league.

Not satisfied with the action of the club owners, Baribote dragged the body to court and the crisis lingered on for a long time hence the league was abandoned. This resulted to humiliation of Nigerian clubs participating at the continental level.

Chief Oyuki Obaseki

All efforts by the minister of Sports and chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi to settle the aggrieved parties proved abortive hence a new body was set up by the Aminu Maigari-led NFF to oversee the affairs of the league.

The President of the NFF, Maigari set up the League Management Company, LMC headed by Nduka Irabor, saddled with running the Nigeria Professional Football League. The body took off without any financial support from the NFF and the NSC but commenced the league with grants from different quarters.

Even while the LMC was trying to convince sponsors to bring money, the club owners were struggling with the organization on the change of nomenclature of the league from the Nigeria Premier League to Nigeria Professional Football League and the LMC as a company to manage the league.

The club owners were also angry that the LMC is not in tandem with the way they are used to doing business. They are still living in a world where decision affecting the league business is discussed at a Congress and not at an Annual General Meeting, AGM.

Our finding shows that congresses are only held in football by Federations, Confederations and the world governing body, FIFA. In the operating manuals of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC and in commercial enterprises which the League belongs, it is the AGM that approves policy directions.

Shortly after, the LMC was able to convince Globacom to be the title sponsor of the league. The title sponsorship deal is worth about N1.8 billion ($12 million). This development brings to an end a three-year wait for a title sponsorship in the elite division in Nigeria.

The three-year title partnership will run till 2015 and it would be paid in three instalments in three years starting with the current season. The first payment of N550 million ($3.4 million) is expected to be made available for the ongoing season.

Meanwhile, the LMC remitted N208 million, which represent the clubs’ sponsorship earnings for the 2012/13 league season, to the 20 Glo Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL clubs. The sum of N10.4 million was released to each club.

It would be recalled that for two seasons, the NPL has been without a title sponsor, after the first auction was poorly handled, which led the bidders, Total promotions and Globacom to seek redress in court.

Apart from the clubs, LMC, also presented the sum of N25 million to the NFF, being five per cent of the money raised in sponsorship fees since coming on stream early this year.

Hon Nduka Irabor

Irabor said the LMC is managing the league in trust for the club owners, and that the company and the club owners now understand one another better. He stated that the presentation is proof that even more money can be made from the league if all stakeholders would play their part accordingly.

His words, “Our determination to take the league to an enviable height remains unshaken. We are working very hard to lay a solid foundation on which subsequent administrations can build to make the Nigeria League one of the very best in the universe.”

Maigari, while showering encomiums on the LMC, affirmed NFF’s approval for the manner the LMC has been sanitising Nigeria’s elite division and stated that both organisations were on the same page.

“The NFF approves of all that the LMC is doing and we are proud of the steps that you are taking to turn the Premier League around for the better. We also note that you have been making efforts, as required, to carry along the club owners in your activities. The NFF is equally proud of your moves to get the spectators back to the stadia so that our elite league can again be what it used to be in decades gone by,” Maigari said.

Meanwhile, clubs are beginning to enjoy the dividends of the LMC. Rivers State Sports commissioner, Fred Igwe recently presented Dolphins Football Club with a new bus.

Dolphins have not had a bus for about three seasons and the club had resorted to hiring for away games in the league. General Manager of Dolphins, Dumbor Awanen said the money used to purchase the bus was what the club received from their share of the League sponsorship money.

“I can confirm to you that we now have a bus and that money did not fall from the sky. You remember that we received 10.5 million naira as our share of the League sponsorship money just last month and we put that money into immediate good use. We must thank the sports commissioner also agrees to put that money into proper use,”Awanen said.

Also recently, the LMC signed a four-year TV rights deal with SuperSport for the coverage of the Nigeria Premier League worth US$34 million which will run from 2015 to 2019.

Irabor said, “Even though the amount is a far cry from what we need it would go a long way in changing the league. With this, Nigerians will have the pleasure of watching six matches a week. And this means happier days are ahead.

“It’s also important to know that for every year beginning from this year, they have agreed to give us $2m per year beginning from the season meaning we will be having more money in the league,” he added.

We gathered that the LMC is trying to encourage a more enduring club ownership that will move away from government or one-man ownership to public ownership through investments by interested businessmen and fans.

It would recalled that only the duo of Victor Baribote and Senator Bukola Saraki, owners of Nembe City and Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ABS Football Clubs that are private club owners in the country, the rest are caretakers and agents of government who treat club business the same way government property tend to be treated.

The LMC said it has commenced the processes of restructuring the NPFL to enable it meet FIFA and global standards of football and deliver its mandate to have a League for Nigeria, run by competent Nigerians and clubs for the benefit of both local and international footballers and fans.

We gathered that only clubs that meet the minimum requirements will be enrolled to be part of the league next season and such minimum requirements include evidence of financial capacity to meet obligations, existence of standard youth teams, contract templates for recruitment of players and coaches and guarantees to protect rights of league sponsors.

Irabor was quoted as saying, “It is just like the Central Bank’s policy on licensing of banks which requires them to meet certain conditions to operate. As a regulator, the LMC is within rights to insist on certain guarantees especially in a country where club managers have shown a predilection to maltreat players and coaches.”

He added, “With the new regime, clubs can sign on with any brand though the number of such will be limited in order not to dilute the equity of the major sponsor as it is done in Ghana, South Africa and in Europe.”

It is also said that the Broadcast right is going to be reviewed to conform to international standards and ensure that clubs are adequately remunerated unlike what was obtained in the defunct NPL where an agency collects over N750m and remits a mere N150m to the league.

Football analysts have commended the LMC for the way it is handling the league and expressed optimism that the league will in no distant future compete with other top leagues in the world. Irabor also said Nigerian league transformation is not negotiable.

How far can this assurance by the Irabor led LMC go? Would the incoming ministers of sports, NFF presidents after the present ones allow the transformation to continue? Only time will tell.

Declare state of emergency infrastructure sector – Works minister

Road under construction

The Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen has recommended the declaration of state of emergency in the infrastructure sector and the establishment of an Infrastructure Development Fund, IDF in order to bring the country out of the huge infrastructure deficit.

Arc. Onolememen, in his goodwill message to the 2013 International All Africa Youth Reunion/Camp in Abuja requested the National Assembly to pass appropriate legislation establishing the IDF and the implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, NIIMP, from the first line charge over a 10-year period.

The message with the title " Funding Infrastructure Development in Africa: Nigeria as a Case Study" also recommended better corporate governance which requires an amendment to the Company and Allied Matters Act that allows companies to contribute 3-5 per cent of their pre-tax income to the IDF.

The Minister said the Federal Government recognizes the need to bridge the infrastructure gap in the country which requires Attitudinal Change, including bold and courageous actions by both the Executive and the Legislature to unleash uncommon transformation in the country.

The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Director, Highways, Planning and Development, Engr. Umunna Ekenna, described the infrastructure deficit as large and affecting every sector adding that investments in the road sector alone require at least the construction of 14,000 km of new roads annually for the next seven years. This is apart from the routine maintenance and rehabilitation of existing road network.

Arc. Onolememen identified good infrastructure as "critical to the overall development of the Nigerian economy, which in turn impacts the standard of living of Nigerians" thus he said infrastructure development occupies a central place in President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda.

He stated that the Jonathan-led administration embarked on major sector reforms in Roads, Housing, Maritime, Aviation, Agriculture, Solid Minerals, Power, Oil and Gas, etc and that the country has just completed the development of a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan which requires tens of trillions of naira to implement.

The government, the Minister stated, cannot fund this huge portfolio alone due to the limited financial resources available and against the backdrop of current global financial tightening and increased competition for available infrastructure funds.

Arc. Onolememen reiterated that there is a global competition among nations to attract private capital into infrastructure development through Public Private Partnership, PPP, and other form of engagement with the private sector.

The Minister said that to attract private finance, the Federal Government of Nigeria took a number of steps not only to ensure that Direct Foreign Investments, DFIS and PPP thrive in the development of infrastructure and the real sector in Nigeria but also to guarantee transparency and accountability in the process.

He mentioned that much time has been devoted to exploring new ways that will bridge infrastructure gap in the country, which reforms will ensure enhanced sustainable financing of infrastructure development; adding that India, Malaysia and many other countries have successfully turned around infrastructure development and consequently their economies through these reforms.

Arc. Onolememen was of the opinion that "User pays" principle will inevitable find its way into the infrastructure sector if the nation is to attract private investment in the development of infrastructure.

The Minister was given an Award as Africa Entrepreneurship Man of the Year 2012 says that Federal Government has recently embarked on a number of PPP projects as a way of delivering some critical national infrastructure in Nigeria.

Other Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon. AbdulMajid, the President of Youth Council of Nigeria and representatives of youth organisations from Ghana and Ivory-Coast.

Civil servants clamour for capacity building for economic growth

Civil servants who participated at the just workshop training for the 2013 Capacity Building/Training Workshop have asked government to extend it to all other ministries, departments and agencies, security, para-military establishments.

One of participants, Debline Rotimi, while speaking after the workshop organised by the Organisation for the Enhancement of Transparent Leadership in Mararaba, Nasarawa state, disclosed that since she joined service in 1992, she has never attended a workshop before.

According to her, “There is no leadership in our office. If the workshop can continue every three months, we will appreciate and learn more things.”

Another participant, Frank Alagoa also wants the training to be seasonal. He claimed that the workshop will help to achieve the overall goal of government. “It should be thrown across the board because I have learnt a lot,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the director of the Organisation for the Enhancement of Transparent Leadership, Hon. Christian Nwachukwu said the training is organised to impact knowledge on the staff of the government agencies.

“It is also meant to equip the civil servants. We cannot continue doing things the normal way especially when it comes to timing. We cannot control time but we can be cautious of it and manage it very well, so that the issue of African time will be a thing of the past,” he noted.

The two day workshop centred on goal and agenda setting, accessibility of performances and targets, delegation of responsibilities, curbing corruption amongst others.

Infrastructure devt necessary for African economic - Onolememen

Arc Onolememen, Works minister

Physical infrastructure, such as roads, houses, power and water has been identified as essential sine qua non for the growth of the African economy, without which the economy will stagnate.

The Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, stated this in a goodwill message to the 2013 International All Africa Youth Reunion/ Camp at the Grace Point Hotel in Abuja with the theme "Africa Youth and Entrepreneurship" where he said that infrastructure development and economic growth are mutually reinforcing, as infrastructure development plays a vital role in wealth creation.

The message titled: “Funding Infrastructure Development in Africa: Nigeria As a Case Study” also identified good infrastructure as "critical to the overall development of the Nigerian economy, which in turn impacts the standard of living of Nigerians".

The Minister said that though the infrastructure deficit is large and affects every sector and that investment in the road sector alone require at least construction of 14,000km of new roads annually for the next seven years, apart from maintaining and rehabilitating the existing network as a matter of routine in order to adequately support economic growth and meet vision 20:20:20; adding that these will require the average annual expenditure on roads to increase seven fold to nearly N750billion.

The minister inspecting a bridge project with some directors of the ministry

Arc. Onolememen mentioned that in view of central place that infrastructure development occupies in President Jonathan quest to transform the nation, the country has just completed the development of a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, which requires ten of trillions of naira to implement.

Government alone, he stated, cannot fund this huge portfolio due to the limited financial resources available and against the backdrop of current global financial tightening and increased competition for available infrastructure funds; thus government is exploring new ways of bridging the infrastructure Funding Gap.

The Minister mentioned that in order to attract private finance, the Federal Government took steps not only to ensure that direct foreign investments (DFIs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) thrive in the development of infrastructure and the real sector in the country but also guarantee transparency and accountability in the process. He identified some of the notable steps as the enactments of the following: Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Act (ICRC) 2005, Power Sector Reform Act 2005, Public Procurement Act 2007 and Mining Act 2007.

Arc. Onolememen said that though the President Jonathan-led Federal Government had embarked on major sectoral reforms in Roads, Housing, Maritime, Aviation, Agriculture, Solid Minerals, Power, Oil and Gas, etc which will ensure enhanced and sustainable financing of infrastructure development in Nigeria; adding that similar paths were taken by India, Malaysia and many other countries that have successfully turned around infrastructure development and consequently their economies.

The Minister was of the opinion that 'User pays' principle will inevitably find its way into the infrastructure sector if the nation is to attract private investments in the development of infrastructure; adding that evidence abound that Nigerians are prepared to pay for good service.

Also, he referred to a number of Public Private Partnership projects embarked upon by the federal government such as the Second Niger Bridge, Murtala Muhammed International Airport-Apakun/Oshodi Expressway in Lagos as means of delivering critical national infrastructure.

The Minister further stated that the government had not discounted other means of financing the nation's infrastructure as there have been improvements in securing multi-lateral financing as well as bi-lateral financing where the loan rates are competitive; assuring that the nation must ultimately strengthen and build financing capacity through our domestic financial institutions and banks in order to ensure sustainability.

In conclusion, Arc. Onolememen, said that the Federal Government recognises the need to bridge the infrastructure gap in the country which require Attitudinal Change, including bold and couragious actions by both the Executive and the Legislature to unleash uncommon transformation in the country. He therefore recommended the following actions to bring Nigeria out of the wood: declaration of emergency in the infrastructure sector; establishment of an Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF); the National Assembly to pass appropriate legislation establishing the IDF and the implementation of the NIIMP from the first line charge oover a 10-year period; and better corporate governance that requires an amendment to the Company and Allied Matters Act that allows companies to contribute 3-5% of their pre-tax income to the IDF. 

Coach Abimbola urges govt, private sectors to develop grassroot football

Former National U-20 Assistant Coach Samuel Abimbola has predicted a brighter future for Nigeria Football if the relevant bodies would join hands with government to develop the game from the grassroots.

Abimbola (left) during the coaching clinic

The immediate past Technical Adviser of Sunshine stars of Akure spoke in Gwagwalada, Abuja at the weekend where he was the Chief Resource Person at the FCT Coaches U-15 Holiday’s Football Clinic.

He said that Nigeria has great potentials in game, but the fears have been how to harness the talents to stardom. He said that if corporate individuals and companies would join hands with relevant government agencies in providing a very conducive environment for the youths to exhibit their skill, Nigeria would be better for it

His words, “If the private individuals and corporate organizations are able to do this, in less than few years time, Nigeria would be better for it. That is what countries like Brazil are thriving on, so we can also do the same.” He however called for absolute transparency from those who would be vested with the responsibility of harnessing these talents.

Speaking, the initiator of the Program, Godwin Bamigboye who is the Chairman of Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter expressed satisfaction on the enthusiasm displayed by the youths, saying that the aims of the holiday program has been achieved “the program started in Bwari Area Council three weeks ago, and their’s was U-17, now it is Gwagwalada with U-15, and we would move to Kuje Area Council for the U-13. Talents spotted would be given further opportunities at various the national teams.

In the opening match, City Stars Academy played a goalless draw with Sensational Stars Academy. The Technical Director of City Stars Academy Patrick Ngwaogu expressed satisfactions on the performance of boys, promising a better result in their subsequent matches. 17 teams from Gwagwalada Area Council, are taking part in the competition which finals will be played on 14^thSeptember. 

Corruption, paucity of funds, factors militating against capacity building among artisans

Corruption, paucity of funds, lack of political will have been identified as some of the factors militating against capacity building among artisans in the building sector.

Third national vice president of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, Bldr Kenneth Nduka made this declaration while delivering a paper on capacity building among artisans in the building sector at the just-concluded 43^rd Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

Nduka said the corrupt tendencies in the affairs of governance in most countries have frustrated the implementation of well-thought-out government policies.

He alleged that in the case of capacity building for artisan, funds are diverted for selfish reasons.

“Contractual relationships whip should otherwise encapsulate skills acquisition and technology transfer initiatives are deliberately undermined, trainings are either starved of funds or run underground, awards for infrastructure project upgrades are often times abandoned.

He disclosed that, “The situation of the school of Architectural Draughtsmanship set up by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is a case in point,” he noted.

On the paucity of funds, Bldr Nduka claimed that the prevailing worldwide economic straits have frustrated the flow of intervention funds from donor agencies.

According to him, “Natural disasters in all corners of the globe; endless political strives and wars have also taken their own toll on the quantum of soft-funding-grants-in-aid and loans that are available for addressing the challenges of capacity building.”

Building collapse: Building code remains the only solution - Omeife

President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, Bldr Chuck Omeife said the National Building Code, NBC remains the only solution to the lingering building collapses in the country.

Bldr Chucks Omeife, NIOB President

He stated this at the just-concluded 43^rd Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

Omeife while delivering his welcome address said one of the most enduring solutions to the problem of building collapse is for government to take the enabling bill which is supposed to give a legal backing to the National Building Code as an executive bill to hearten its promulgation by the National Assembly.

“This way the buildings waiting to collapse can be prevented and sanity can return to a large extent to the built environment,” he noted.

He also emphasized that another solution to building collapse is to consciously bridge the yawning gap between design and construction.

According to him, “The policy gap in the Built environment regulatory framework and the disconnect between design and construction is an issue to be addressed. The builder remains the missing link between design and construction for the enthronement of quality delivery of the sector products.”

Collapsed building

He added, “The builders’ involvement at the design stage revolves around planning, evaluation of various construction methodologies with possible strategies, the situation of the health and safety paradigms that will drive the entire project execution.”

The NIOB president however disclosed that there are attempts to capture some of the fundamental omissions in the NBC but its non-implementation due to lack of enforcement legislation has given impetus to quacks who have taken over the industry.

Coaches Association advocates establishment of Sports Devt Fund

The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, Godwin Bamigboye has advocated the immediate establishment of the FCT Sports Development Fund. 

He explained that the Fund will accelerate sports development in the Federal Capital Territory and quick realization of projects like the Abuja Sports Academy and the Abuja Sports Village.

The Coaches Chairman stated that the establishment of FCT Sports Development Fund will serve as a catalyst for genuine and sustained sports development in the Federal Capital Territory in particular and also serve as a model or reference point to the 36 States of Nigeria in general. It shall be a form of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

He added that the FCT Sports Development Fund shall augment Government’s huge expenditure in sports. “Since Government alone cannot fund and manage sports, this carefully premeditated initiative is a veritable solution.” The Fund is expected to serve the following purposes and many more others:

i.        Fundraising: It shall raise fund in different ways such as fund raising dinner, Charity Match, Lottery, Jogging/ walking for charity, partnership and collaboration with Local and International Organizations, Construction Companies, Mortgage Institutions, Banks, Government Agencies – NOA, NTDC, NAFDAC, NACA etc, Telecommunication Companies, among others.

ii.      Athlete Development: Training and Retraining, Sponsorship for trials for local and international recruitment, Training Tours (domestic and International).

iii.    Athlete Welfare:  Introduction of pension scheme for athletes who are not employed in any public or private organization. Encourage and actualize investment and entrepreneurial consciousness in athletes.

iv.   Coaches Welfare: Training and re-training, Introduce pension scheme, entrepreneurial and investment consciousness to coaches.

v.     Assist in the realization of the Abuja Sports Village and Abuja Sports Academy.

vi.   Augment government effort in the provision of sports infrastructure and equipment such as training pitches, aerobic equipment, schools sports development etc.

He requested the Honourable Minister of FCT to consider for immediate implementation the suggestion from the Association which he describes as a veritable solution to sports development in the Federal Capital Territory.