Nigerian Newspapers
FG to return radioactive materials from Ajaokuta Steel to Russia
Twenty four long years after the Federal Government signed an agreement to construct the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in 1979, the plant has not been fully completed. UDEME AKPAN and CHIDI UGWU who examine the implications of the development report that some imported materials earlier for the use of the plant are to be shipped to Russia because of their radioactive nature.
When the Federal Government sealed a global contract for the execution of Ajaokuta Steel plant with Messrs Tyajzhpromexport, TPE of the defunct USSR on July 13, 1979, it was desirous to construct and operate an integrated steel project to produce cast steel using the blast furnace technology. This, to a great extent looked possible as some raw materials, including iron ore, coking coal, limestone, scraps, bauxite, dolomite, refractory clay and manganese were confirmed to be available in Nigeria and Russia.
These materials were to be processed in the three rolling mills within the plant designed for the production of saleable billets, beams, channels, angles, broad flanges, rounds, hexagonal, strips, wire rods and reinforcement rods. The ASCL was to produce by-products such as dehydrated tar, ammonium sulphate, fertilizer, benzene, toluene, xyelene, naphtha, etc.
More than that, the plant has a captive Thermal Power Plant, TPP which has the capacity produce 100 megawatts, mw of electricity. It also has an engineering complex, made up of eight shops, namely, Foundry and Pattern Making, Forge and Fabrication, Machine and Tools, Power Equipment Repairs, Rubberizing, Lubricant Reclamation, Electroplating, and an Express Laboratory.
Despite the countless pronouncements and numerous visits of past and present leaders of the nation, the ASCL which was originally scheduled for completion in 1986 remained uncompleted, barely 24 years after the contract was signed with the major contractor. Investigations showed that some factors, including lack of funds, lack of commitment and corruption of public officers accounted for the inability of the nation to complete the plant on schedule.
This has affected the nation in many ways. For instance some raw materials components imported and locally assembled in preparation for planned commissioning and operation of the plant were wasted. This compelled the government to enter into various agreements, including joint venture, concession and even outright privatisation. But none of the options seemed to have assisted to rescue ASCL from stagnation.
Consequently, the nation continues to depend on other nations for its steel. In other words, the nation which finds it difficult to produce its steel creates jobs opportunities and sustain domestic demand for steel and related products have over the years assisted to sustain steel plants around the world through massive importation of steel. It has also created numerous job and business opportunities as well as stimulated industrial revolution in such nations.
This and other negative consequences have attracted the comments of some stakeholders. For instance, the Chairman, ASCL of Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSSAN, Comrade Abdulkareem Jimoh at a recent conference in Lagos called on the government to engage the original contractor to carry out a technical audit of the plant and complete it.
The Federal Government was also tasked to put in place, infrastructural facilities such as railway lines, dredging of the River Niger, etc. in order to make ASCL function effectively, efficiently and profitably. The Federal Government was also tasked to operate ASCL when completed for at least 24 months before considering public-private- partnership (PPP) for the sustainable operation of the plant.
Incidentally, the government seemed to have started implementing some of the recommendations. For instance, the technical audit has been completed. The dredging of the River Niger is ongoing. More than that, the Federal government has inaugurated a 10 man inter-agency committee on the disposal of radio-active source substances at the ASCL.
The radioactive elements were imported from former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR many years ago for use in various specialised facilities in ASCL plant, but some which were left unused, are now posing environmental hazards, and necessitating repatriation back to the country of origin. The minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Mohammed Musa Sada, said the inauguration followed the approval by President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2013, to set up committee which would commence the process of repatriation of the radioactive substances to their countries of origin.
Members of the committee include, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Linus Awute, as the chairman, Sole Administrator, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Engr. Isa Joseph, Acting Director General, Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Dr. M.O. Ogbaradukun, Director General, Centre for Energy Research and Training, ABU Zaria, Dr. Muhammed Dewu and Director, Legal Drafting, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Hamza Tahir.
Sada, who inaugurated the committee, stated that the terms of reference are to establish the country of origin of the radio-active sources, establish necessary liaison with relevant country or countries to facilitate repatriation and determine the methodology for handling the safe evacuation of the substances.
Other terms include establishment of the probable cost implication for the repatriation exercise and submit a report of the excise to the Federal Government of Nigeria. According to the Director, Steel and Non-Ferrous Metal Department in ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engr. Abdullahi Also, who is a member of the committee several inconclusive efforts have been made to the past, to safely, dispose the radio-active sources.
Giving a background to the origin of the radioactive elements, Engr. Also, said that ASCL awarded a contract for the construction of steel plant to Tyazpromexport, TPE of the defunct Soviet Union. He recalled that between 1983 and 1988, TPE imported into the country some radioactive sources (including mostly an element called caesium or CS135) which is radioactive and were used for ascertaining the quality and soundness of some special welding work. He noted that some of the radioactive sources were left unused when the contract slowed down and was eventually determined in 1995, but efforts by ASCL to safe keep these radioactive sources through one of the Civil Lot contractors Messrs Dumez Nigeria Limited were inconclusive.
After, this effort failed, the management of ASCL in 2004, notified the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) of the existence of the radioactive sources within the Ajaokuta Steel Complex stressing that presence of the sources pose safety and security risks as some them could be used to make radiological dispersive Devices, RDD and contaminate the environment. According to Also, the importation and deployment of these sources were not subject to any authorization because there was no such legal requirement in the country at the time they were brought into Nigeria.
However, the NNRA had insisted that the extant policy for management of spent or disused radioactive sources is to repatriate them to their original manufacturers or suppliers, but the collapse of the former Soviet union has occasioned many political and administrative changes leading to the Russian Federation not accepting to take back the materials arguing that it was not part of the agreement of purchase.
Also, in 2008, the NNRA in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, United States Department of Energy, USDOE and the National Nuclear Security Committee, NNSC carried out an inventory and characterised all the sources which confirmed a total of 243 legacy sources at ASCL. These are said to be significant, thus justifying government concerns.
From all indications, the insistence of Nigeria to ship the radioactive materials to Russia and the refusal of the former Soviet Union to willingly take delivery of the controversial consignment may likely set the two nations on a collision course. The world is however waiting to watch how events will play out in the coming months.
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: National Mirror Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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