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NASRDA laments lack of patronage of homegrown technology
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) ,says that 90% of security challenges facing the maritime sector in Nigeria can be tackled by Geo – Stationary Satellite .
The newly appointed Director General of the Space and Research Agency , Dr Olumide Mathew Adepoju stated this during screening exercise of his appointment by the Senate Committee on Innovation , Science and Technology .
Dr Adepoju at the Screening appointment exercise , however lamented non patronage of Home grown technology in the country by relevant authorities and Nigerians .
He told the committee chaired by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas ( PDP Adamawa Central) , that the Geo – Stationary Satellite if embraced by all stakeholders in the maritime sector , will fill in the gap for the needed Maritime Domain Awareness for all manner of planned crimes and possibility of nipping them in the bud.
” For us at NASRDA, we are ready to collaborate and synergize with critical stakeholders in the maritime sector on the need to curb all manner of crimes in the sector.
” The most important device to use is Geo – Stationary Satellite , which would help to give the required Maritime Domain Awareness for the various key players through synthetial factor reading .
” For effective use of the Geo – Stationary Satellite , cooperation and synergy are already being worked on between us and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Satellite System ( NigComSat) , National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) etc “, he said .
He however lamented that homegrown technologies put forward through innovations and inventions , are seldom patronized by relevant authorities and Nigerians .
” We have inbuilt capacity at NASRDA but the culture of not patronizing ourselves in Nigeria , makes results from such capacities , uncelebrated .
” We can work together with the security agencies through our home grown solution which is not patronize .
” Aside from that , the problem of acute shortage of office space for about 70 % of NASRDA staff , is also inhibiting them from giving their best because out of 5, 200 staff , less than 30% has office space “, he lamented .
In his remarks , the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas , told the nominee , that when confirmed by the Senate as substantive Director General of NASRDA, he should make the Space Center , a Centre of Excellence .
” Go for talent hunting because we have not seen much in the area of human development . Develop in – house capacity . Pay attention to staff development “, he said .
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Shettima becomes 1st VP to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UN Assembly in 25 yrs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.
The president has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”
“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement added.
Since return to democratic governance in 199, Shettima will be the first Vice President to Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.
Only Goodluck Jonathan represented Nigeria as Acting president in September 2010 at the 65th UNGA, while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was away in Saudi Arabia due to his ill health.
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Plateau Assembly approves N5.8bn for LG election
The Plateau State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved N5.8bn for the conduct of the local government election in the state slated for October 9, 2024.
The approval by the House followed a communication from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which was read at plenary by the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.
The Speaker stated that the request was necessary as there was no budgetary allocation for the LG elections in the 2024 budget.
A member of the State Assembly, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the Assembly, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday.
The lawmaker said, “Governor Mutfwang, at Tuesday’s plenary, sought the House’s approval for N5.7bn as the 2024 supplementary, which was increased after upward review by the legislators.”
He continued, “The House leader, Joseph Bukar, presented the bill during our plenary. While soliciting the support of members for speedy passage, he said PLASIEC was running out of time in preparation for the election.”
“In their individual contributions, Hon. Kalamu Dal suggested a downward review of the budget size, while Hon. Daniel Nanbol urged for a critical review and deliberations. Afterwards, members approved a revised sum of N5.8bn, as opposed to the N5.7bn requested.”
The increase, as explained by Bukar, was due to an increase in security allocation for the election, from N2.7m to N4.2m. “So, that is what happened, and that is where we are at the moment regarding the forthcoming LG election,” the lawmaker concluded.
News
Enugu, Kwara tighten security ahead of LG polls
Security measures have been intensified in Enugu and Kwara states ahead of their Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
In Enugu State, the Police Command has pledged to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the elections.
However, the peace accord signing for the elections was marred by the absence of major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and Labour Party.
Only representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Accord attended but chose not to sign the accord, citing the lack of participation from the leading parties.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said all wards and flashpoints had been identified, and security personnel would be on high alert to prevent any disruptions.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu, said the commission was fully prepared for the elections with the support of the state government in procuring necessary materials.
In Kwara State, security agencies have been actively coordinating to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Over 3,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed across the state.
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has completed arrangements for a trouble-free election.
Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reported that a strategic meeting with heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and others, had been held to ensure coordinated efforts for maintaining law and order.
The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, guaranteed maximum security for the election period.
The NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, announced the deployment of 3,000 personnel to various polling units and emphasised their role in preventing violence, ballot snatching, and other disruptions.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Telumun Tombowua, announced on Thursday that eight political parties will participate in the upcoming LG elections in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Tombowua said the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.
He emphasised that the law establishing the BSIEC does not permit the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines for this election.
Regarding the APC, Tombowua confirmed that the National Working Committee of the party had requested the commission to work with the seven-man caretaker committee appointed to oversee party affairs in the state.
He noted that while 14 parties had initially shown interest, only eight completed the necessary processes and submitted their candidates.
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