The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the granting of Nigerian citizenship to 82 foreigners.



The approval followed a memo from the Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho.



Out of the 82, 38 were granted citizenship by naturalisation while the remaining 44 received citizenship by registration.



Fifty-four other foreigners, who also sought to become Nigerian citizens, were however not successful as their applications were stepped down due to what FEC described as “inappropriate clearance reports.”



The Minister of State for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who made this known after FEC’s meeting in Abuja, also disclosed that the council also approved the provision of project management services for Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project (lots 1 and 3) in the sum of N1.2bn.



The project, which has a 48-month completion period, is to be handled by Transurb Technirail Consult Limited.



Maku explained that the council made the approval after considering a memo by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Senator Bala Mohammed.



According to the minister, the FCTA is embarking on a progressive development of a rapid-based commuter system in line with the Abuja Master Plan.



He said that the rail project had been divided into six lots in order to facilitate its phased development.



Maku further explained that based on the earlier conceptual design and study done by Messrs CPCS Transcom of Canada, Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Nigeria) Limited had earlier been awarded the contract to design and construct Lots 1 and 3 at the cost of N841.6m.



The council planned that the rail project would minimise the difficulties currently experienced by commuters in the FCT.



Another contract approved by the council was the direct procurement of 63 Peugeot Expert Teepee G9 ambulances and accessories for use in rural areas in 20 states and the FCT.



The states are Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross-Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.



The contract, which has a delivery period of four weeks, was awarded in favour of Messrs Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited at N458.4m. The unit cost is N7.23m.



Maku explained that the contract was approved following a memo from the Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Josephine Anenih. The minister had sought the procurement of the ambulances in order to convey pregnant women to health care centres in the rural areas.



The ambulances are expected to accelerate the country’s efforts at meeting the Millennium Development Goals target of reducing maternal and child mortality by 2015.



The first phase of the scheme, which covered 16 states of the federation, was launched by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, in Abuja on July 9, 2010.



Maku said, “Maternal mortality in Nigeria is extremely high when compared to other countries, and is one of the country’s most significant development challenges.”



FEC also approved the ratification of optional protocols to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.



The two optional protocols were adopted by the UN General Assembly in May 2000 to strengthen the protection of children from armed conflict as well as the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.



Nigeria signed the protocols on September 8, 2000 but is yet to ratify them.



Before the meeting began, Jonathan swore in his new Chief Economic Adviser, Prof. Mrs. Precious Garba, and advised her to blend her academic and theoretical knowledge with the practical realities on the ground.



Until her appointment, Garba, a Professor of Economics, was the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.



Garba replaces Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, who served as Chief Economic Adviser to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.



Yakubu quit the job on his own volition after Yar’Adua’s death. Jonathan told Garba that the job of the economic adviser to the President was a “ “challenging and strategic one.”



He, therefore, mandated her to bring her knowledge to bear on the economy, in order to help Nigeria get out of the woods.



Jonathan said, “Now you have been called to come and serve the government and we believe that you will bring your knowledge to help in strengthening the economic team.”



“The office Chief Economic Adviser to the President is a very strategic one, because you will work hand in glove with the minister of finance and you will be involved in a number of policies and programmes of government that have to do with her economic development and growth as a nation.



“That is quite a challenging job and we believe that you are very competent to handle these various responsibilities. You should know that your responsibilities are quite strategic and useful.



“So we believe that you will bring your knowledge and wisdom to bear and serve your nation, not Mr. President, to make sure that we get out of the woods and our economy turns.



“You know we have a dream, a vision and an aspiration that by the year 2020 Nigeria should play big amongst the committee of nations and you have been brought in to play a role in that part.



“You will blend the academic and theoretical knowledge with the practical realities on ground and I believe you will succeed.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100819382432

Is this news?

Osama10:

Is this news?

So what is news my man, i don't think you understand what news is all about do try to understand what something is be4 you reply

Osama10:

Is this news?

I agree. This is spam.

I'm sure the people granted citizenship r 4rm Niger republic,dats if its true