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FG Orders Projects’ Tour, Media Talks
Ahead of the one year anniversary celebration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved ministerial media dialogue and physical tour of major Federal Government projects nationwide.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku disclosed this after the Council meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the State House.
Sambo presided over the meeting on behalf of President Jonathan, who is in Germany for a state visit.
Briefing the State House correspondents after the meeting, Maku said that the essence of the media dialogue and the projects’ tour was for government to give accounts of what it had been able to achieve in one year.
“Let me use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that a lot of the works that we have been given in the Council have been going on in the field.
“From next week, we are engaging every Ministry in a dialogue with Nigerians on what have been achieved.
“Now, we take this as very important because I believe that democracy is about accountability.
“It is about explaining what we are doing and this is also part of the process of carrying Nigerians along and let them know what is going on in the field, let them ask questions if there are questions to be asked.
“And this will also enable the government to really prove to the people, doubting Thomas, that indeed, in this one year of this administration, a lot of work has been going on and we now want to show the evidence to the people of Nigeria as to the nature of work and what is going on in the field.
“In addition to this, we have also designed a programme to tour projects physically, this will take place from June.’’
Maku said both events would be coordinated by his ministry in collaboration with other Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He said the media dialogue would start next week and feature Ministers who would hold conversation with Nigerians on the achievements of their respective ministries.
The minister said that the Federal Government had taken steps to approve a draft policy on the establishment of a Central Data Centre for government agencies.
He said the proposed data base system was expected to provide a single data base for all government agencies to reduce cost of governance.
Maku said the draft policy was submitted to Council by the Minister of Telecommunication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson.
“Currently, we have a data base that is maintained by the FRSC, INEC, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Identity Card Management Commission.
“We also have banks keeping their own data base for their clients across the country and this is not supposed to be so.
“We need a co-ordination such that the nation can develop one data base and different agencies can subscribe to it.’’
Maku said that the data base would serve as a ‘One stop shop” for information gathering that could serve all the agencies.
According to him, FEC reviewed the outcome of the recently held National Council on Education, adding that Council agreed that after years of implementation of the Nomadic Education Programme at the primary level, there was need for special Secondary Schools for such categories of students.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
