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Tambuwal, APC, Others Seek Probe Of NIS Deaths

Published

11 years ago

March 17, 2014

L-R: Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Benjamin Dikki, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Igali and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Mabi Daniel-Nwaobia, at a news conference after a joint meeting of NCP and Governing Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited in Abuja, last Friday.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has described as “unfortunate” the death of some Nigerians on Saturday at recruitment centres of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
This is contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam yesterday in Abuja.
Some applicants died at some of the recruitment centres as a result of stampede.
According to the speaker, the death of the innocent youths was sorrowful and regrettable.
He said it was more regrettable considering the fact that they were at the screening centres in search of jobs that would better their lots and that of their loved ones.
Tambuwal urged the authorities concerned to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the tragedy, and advised them to map out strategies to prevent future occurrence.
He urged governments at all levels to work closely with the Organised Private Sector to tackle the unemployment problem facing the nation.
The speaker condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones, and prayed for quick recovery of injured ones.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called for investigation into the ‘needless deaths’ of some job seekers at some venues of job test of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
Not less than 19 people were reported dead among the over one million applicants on Saturday at some centres of the test for the NIS jobs.
APC interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos, described the incidence as a direct consequence of unemployment problem plaguing the nation.
The party, according to the statement, expressed ‘great distressed’ at the deaths of the job seekers, adding that the minister of interior should bear the direct responsibility for the deaths.
The statement said that APC commiserated with the families of the victims and wished those injured speedy recovery.
It decried government’s inability to create jobs for the nations teeming youths, stressing that the number of jobless Nigerians had reached alarming rate.
“Massive mindless looting of the public funds that could have been used to create millions of jobs end up in the deep pockets of corrupt government officials without any consequence.
“The truth has been laid bare – 5,000 or so vacancies declared by NIS attracted over six million applicants, from which over half a million was shortlisted, according to published reports,’’ it stated.
The statement said that the ministry of interior had many questions to answer over the arrangements made for the job tests in 37 venues nationwide.
“Is it true that the minister directly presided over the recruitment?
“Why was such an arrangement made for the test when so many people were invited?
“Could the test not have been done in batches to avoid a stampede?’’ it queried.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called for immediate investigation of the death of some Nigerians who died during stampede at the recruitment exercise at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
He also called on the Ministry of Interior and relevant government agencies, to immediately swing into action to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the stampede.
Metuh further urged government agencies and parastatals, as well as all PDP elected and appointed officials at all levels of government to redouble their efforts in curbing unemployment in the country.
He said the party was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of the young citizens who were at the exercise.
He said the victims were not at the venue only to secure jobs but also to be allowed the opportunity to contribute toward the development of the nation.
He commiserated with the families of the deceased, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, has described Saturday’s stampede at some Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment centres, that claimed lives of some Nigerians, as “unfortunate and a national tragedy.”
The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja, when he addressed newsmen after he visited the Abuja National Stadium, where seven persons died.
Moro, described the incident as “unfortunate and a national tragedy,’’ adding that this was not the time to apportion blame.

News

Tinubu Appoints Four Nominees Into NCDMB Governing Council

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2025

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.

The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.

Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.

“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.

“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”

News

NDDC To Construct Hostels, Roads In UNIPORT – Ogbuku

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2025

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.

Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.

According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.

“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.

“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.

Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.

“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.

He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.

Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.

He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.

“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.

“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.

The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.

News

Senate Rejects Motion To Rename INEC Headquarters After Humphrey Nwosu

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2025

The Tide

The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.

Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.

The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.

Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.

Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.

He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”

Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.

On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.

“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.

Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.

“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.

After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.

They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.