ECOWAS taking measures to ensure free movement of persons

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has said that they are taking measures to ensure free movement of persons.

He stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while presenting his address on the Status of Implementation of the Community Work Programmes at the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

“ECOWAS is introducing innovative measures to facilitate free movement across the sub-region.

“We are working on introducing an ECOWAS Visa, ECOVISA, like that of Schengen VISA.”

Speaking further, he said only six out of the 15 member states had the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).

He named the member states to include; Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.

Niger Gov. applauds Buhari for Zungeru Dam Power project completion

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project in Niger State.

Governor Bello made the commendation when he joined the Minister of Power, Eng. Abubakar Aliyu and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam on a fact-finding visit to the facility.

He added that the Hydroelectric Dam being the fourth in the state would benefit the surrounding communities and ensure access to more electricity to the people of the state and beyond.

Minister of Power Eng. Aliyu also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for sustaining and completing the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project which he said its type was last constructed in 1960.

He said the work has been completed and all necessary measures are being put in place at the National Council of Privatization to tidy up the concession deal with Mainstream Energy, the preferred bidder.

The Zungeru Power Dam which has a height of 95m and is located on River Kaduna is the first dam to be constructed using Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) technology, four of the turbine have been completed each with 175 MGW with four water spillways.

The 330KV Switchyard at Mararaba has been completed and the 132kv Tegina Substation ongoing will soon be completed. Places visited included, the reservoir, control room, 330 KV switch yard that connects power generated from Jebba, shiroro and now Zungeru to the National Grid, and Mararaba Switch yard among others.

10th NASS: Wadada’ll make a difference in Senate — Stakeholders

Some political stakeholders in Nasarawa West Senatorial District have expressed optimism that Senator-elect Ahmed Wadada would make a difference in the upcoming 10th Senate.

They expressed their views at an interactive session between Wadada and his Campaign Council under the leadership of Prof. Silas Gyar, Chairman of the Advisory Council and the Director-General, Alhaji Bello Ramalan, held on Friday in Keffi.

In his remark, the former Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Alhaji Aliyu Tijjani said even before the inauguration of the 10th Senate, Wadada has demonstrated capacity to provide quality representation for his constituents.

Tijjani described Wadada as a unifying factor in the politics of Western Zone, adding that his election was very unique in the political history of the senatorial district.

He said: “The people of Nasarawa West Senatorial District, irrespective of tribal and religious differences and political affiliations voted for Wadada because of the confidence reposed on him.

“It is only during the election of Wadada that religious leaders including Pastors preached in the Churches and told their followers to vote for him.

“There was no question of tribe or religion throughout the period of the election that brought Wadada to the Senate and I believe that he will make a difference at the Senate.”

Earlier, Mr Adabson Tanimu, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasarawa State, said: ”The people of the district voted for Wadada because of his competency not his political party.”

Tanimu,who is the Director-General of Gov. Abdullahi Sule/Akabe Campaign Council, enjoined the Senator-elect to embrace people of the senatorial district irrespective of their political inclinations.

Also, Alhaji Bello Ramalan, former twoterm member of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, said the people of the zone were pleased with what Wadada has started doing at the national level.

He said: “We are excited with the recent engagements of Wadada with the serving and Senators-elect. It has reaffirmed our hope and belief in his commitment to give us effective representation at the Senate.”

Similarly, Alhaji Danladi Madaki, a former lawmaker and Commissioner of Environment, Nasarawa State, described Wadada as a man of great political sagacity who was always concerned with the progress of his people.

On her part, Hajiya Rabi Taro, a grassroots mobiliser, urged Wadada to work assiduously towards addressing the high rate of unemployment in the area.

Responding, Wadada said: ”I am a Senator for all the people of the district irrespective of political differences.”

The Senator-elect harped on the need for sustainable peace, unity and mutual respect among the people of the district.

Wadada said that the meeting was convened to update his campaign council and the people of the district on unfolding developments regarding the 10th National Assembly.

He promised to work diligently to ensure that his constituency, state and the North Central got what was due to them from the Senate and the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by all the critical stakeholders, youths and women leaders from all the five Local Government Areas that made up the senatorial district.

(NAN)