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35 Days After Lockdown, FCT Edges Back To Life

Published

4 years ago

May 4, 2020

…Resident throngs Banks, Private owners business open, Hustling Soar

Joel Ajayi

Resident, Government offices, Banks, Private owner business, and some activities is gradually come alives in the Capital City of Nigeria after a 35 days of lockdown in the city.

Though, Educational Institutions, recreation centers, Churches, Mosques, Markets amongst amongst other were seen closed.

Restrictions on movement in the last 5 weeks are tentatively being relaxed now in FCTas life begins to return to normal.

The consensus is that the worst has passed in FCT after 5 weeks of widespread quarantine people are able to catch up with friends again.

Major streets in the city were seen busy, as movement of vehicles is second to none transporters in their numbers resumed work earnestly, Private owner business were equally seen opening their businesses.

Not only that, Hustlers in the city littered everywhere to commence the hustling, Artsian, such as car wash operators, food vendors, Mechnics, sellers were everywhere ekeing for the living.

Though Customers were not allow to enter banks en mass because of social distancing, residents in the FCT on Monday thronged various banks to do one transaction or the others.

Like a fury fire, the rates of new infections of COVID-19 continue to soar in Nigeria from data released by Nigerian Center for Diseases Control NCDC as at the 3rd of May 2020. 278 persons were affected, in the FCT as the cases of affected persons in the country rises to 2558, 400 discharged while 87 death recorded so far.

It with be recalled that on 27th of April President Muhammadu Buhari in his Nationwide broadcast anounced gradual ease of lockdown in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Saturday, 2nd May, 2020 at 9am.

According to Buhari, Based on the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved for a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Saturday, 2nd May, 2020 at 9am.

“However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos & Ogun States shall subsist remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Saturday, 2nd May 2020 at 9am.” Part of the speech read.

Also, the office of the Head of Service of the federation under the leadership of Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, stated the readiness of civil servant to resume duty in a memo dated April 30 and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, all ministers and MDAs.

The circular read: “Further to Mr. President‘s broadcast on a phased and gradual easing of the Iockdown measures occasioned by COVID-19, officers on GL. 14 and above and those on essential services are hereby directed to resume work with effect from Monday 4th May, 2020 in the first instance

“Offices are to open three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday and close at 2.00pm on each day. In resuming, the concerned officers are to ensure full compliance with the directives and advice on the COVID-19 pandemic preventive measures including maintenance of social distancing, regular washing and/ or sanitizing of hands and wearing of face masks.

“Officers are advised to limit the number of visitors they receive to the barest minimum and such visitors should also comply with safety and health advice/directives.

“As you are aware, the Federal Secretariat Complexes have been decontaminated while efforts are ongoing to do some in other public offices.”

The Gleamer Online News who take a short trip within the FCT On Monday reported that life is returning to FCT as some busineses, offices open their business for their day to day activities.

Federal Secretariat witnessed low turn out as only Senior and essential staff were gaining entrance while old Federal Secretariat in Area 1 follow the suit.

At the Area 7 Garki popularly known as the home of banks, Various banks has reopened all previously declared closed as the virus spread rapidly, resident besieged the banks either to withdraw or do other transaction.

Though market management FCT did not open the gate of UTC a Popular business place in Area 10, the place indeed, come back to life, as traders and hustlers in their numbers positioned themselves outside the gate to start their business while some are eargerly looking for customers.

At Area 2 Market, only fruits shops were allow to open while others shops still remain closed.

Almost all the Major roads in FCT were busy with millions of vichular movement as resident are happy to gain freedom after 35 days in Captivity.

However, the effects on livelihoods could last for many years, with lots of businesses facing bankruptcy, unemployment, losing means of livelihood, inflation jumped, and economic output in one of the Africas fastest economies was at its lowest level
in the period of quarantine.

It may be too early to do a victory lap just yet, but for anyone around the world looking for signs of positivity and hope, Nigeria would be a good place to turn to.

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RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

12 hours ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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