Economy
NSE Bwari Donates N5m Solar Borehole to Gaba Community
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bwari branch, has donated a solar powered borehole worth about N5 million to Gaba community, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, FCT.
The Chairman, NSE Bwari branch, Dr Halima Adediran, said during the inauguration of the borehole on Tuesday that the borehole was donated to the community to redeem a pledge.
“Actually, the inauguration of the solar power project you are seeing today is one of the promises I made when I took over the leadership of the society.
“When I took over in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic last year, I indentified one of the challenges that needed to be solved was to bring engineering solutions to mitigate the spread of the pademic.
“So, we immediately sprang into action and carried out a study of some communities and we found out that there were two densely populated communities, which are Gaba and Igu that do not have portable water,” she said.
She explained that the project was initially estimated to cost N2.5 million in 2020, but due to high cost of materials, about N5 million was spent on it.
“The only water source available to them is a stream and we know that makes them prone to water borne diseases.
“So, we had to quickly join forces together and sink a borehole for them, not just a borehole but a solar powered borehole so that they don’t incur electric bill,” she said.
Adediran said two members of the Bwari branch sponsored the project; calling on well meaning Nigerians and other professional bodies to support villages and communities in Abuja.
She promised that the society would reach out to other communities in need of water among others, adding that NSE would have constructed more boreholes for Gaba community but was handicapped by funds.
The Minister of State, FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, observed that the whole country was ravaged by the out break of cholera, especially in the FCT.
Aliu, represented by Dr Mohammed Dan-Hassan, Executive Director, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (FCT RUWASSA), said at the last count, the FCT had recorded over 71 deaths from the disease.
“FCT did not record such fatality rate during COVID like what we just had in cholera outbreak and billions were spent in trying to arrest the ravishing effect of COVID-19 and cholera.
“Cholera is usually contacted from unsafe water resources and food and one of the ways to curtail the menace is to provide safe drinking water.
“To the glory of God, our own engineers who are problem solvers noticed and identified the need to solve a problem in this community.
“We are making efforts to ensure every household in every community in FCT has a toilet to stop open defecation,” said the minister.
Speaking at the event, President of NSE, Babagana Mohammed, said the project was a promise made and fulfilled, urging the community to ensure the sustainability of the project.
Also, Mr Mohammed Babakobi, Director, Stadia and facilities, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport, tasked the community to use the borehole effectively.
The Gaba Youth Leader, Mr Francis Musa, appreciated NSE Bwari branch for providing portable water, which indicated the begining of turn around for the community.
Musa said the community had a long way to go, as it needed youth empowerment programme, modern senior secondary schools, hospital facilities, among others.
Also, Chairman, Project Implementation Committee, NSE Bwari branch, Mr Ijirotimi Olanrewaju, during his vote of thanks, said the committe faced many hiccups in actualising the project.
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)
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