News
FRSC Records 23% Reduction Of Road Crashes In 2023 -SGF
The Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF), Sen. George Akume has said the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) has recorded a 23 per cent reduction in road crashes from January to date.
The SGF stated this at the inauguration of the newly built FRSC Sector Command’s Office in Kaduna yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Akume was represented by Mr Iliyasu Agaka, Director, Affairs of former Heads of State and State Protocol
He said that the extraordinary achievements the corps had recorded so far were preconditioned by the unwavering support received from the present administration on both the administrative and operational fronts.
Akume said, “I am fully aware that in this year alone, the corps recorded a huge over 23 per cent reduction in road crashes.
“This great edifice we are inaugurating today will motivate the staff to put in greater efforts for maximum performance.”
He stated that under the President Bola Tinubu-led government, FRSC has made tremendous efforts in reducing road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries associated with them.
“I must confess that I am now quite familiar with your main objectives of creating a conducive working environment for your workforce.
Your approach to organizational management is in tandem with global best practices,” the SGF added.
Akume said that amidst the challenges that confronted the realization of the corporate mandate, FRSC continued to be counted among few government agencies deeply committed to accomplishing the enormous responsibilities imposed on them by their Establishment Act.
He said that efforts at developing an efficient transport system were pivotal to national growth, adding, “that is why economic development is hinged a great
deal on efficient road transportation which facilitates the movement of goods and services.
“Your resilience, sacrifices and determination to eradicate road traffic crashes in our country is manifest in your various sustainable road safety programs, including the quarterly Strategy Session.”
Akume said that the administration of Tinubu was pleased with the remarkable heights the corps has attained, especially its leadership role of West Africa Road Safety as part of efforts to scale up the bar on road safety management within the West African Sub-region.
Akume said that irrespective of the tremendous achievements recorded over the years, the war against road crashes was still far from over.
That is why providing a conducive working environment is critical to remind us of the need to brazen up to the challenges that lie ahead of us all, first as individuals, as an organization and as a community of people because indeed, road safety is a collective responsibility.
On our part, the Federal Government will continue to show commitment to the improvement of the road transportation sector of the economy as seen in its massive road construction and rehabilitation efforts going on across the country.
“This effort is aimed at achieving an improved road network in Nigeria, ease traffic congestion and improve mobility on our highways.
Efforts by the government to promote intermodal transportation in Nigeria have also resulted in federal government’s construction and rehabilitation of rail tracks, dredging of waterways, as well as upgrading of most airports in Nigeria, “he said.
The SGF called on all the stakeholders in the transportation industry to make prudent use of this facilities by protecting the critical infrastructure.
“ For sustainable management, the government is also working through the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission to explore public-private management, “he said.
Akume disclosed that in spite of global economic challenges, the Federal Government had at various times approved the procurement of operational vehicles and other equipment for the corps.
“The government had also in recent times approved recruitment of more personnel to the corps to boost your workforce, as well as approvals granted for it to build office accommodation in various parts of Nigeria, “Akume said.
Also in his address, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State said, “As a government, we will continue to work with FRSC in charting paths that will ensure sustainability and attainability to the UN decade of action on eradication of road traffic crashes.”
Represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Sani said that the state government has established five computerized vehicle testing centres as part of its effort in ensuring safer vehicles that comply with all safety standards.
“My administration is poised to continue to enhance the operations of FRSC in Kaduna through supporting mechanism that will aid the overall functionality and ensure that FRSC achieve its corporate objectives, “Sani said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.